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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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l/^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  l\^icroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


>> 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notes  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instltuta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
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tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covara/ 
Couverture  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covars  damaged/ 


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Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  at/ou  pelliculie 


r~~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


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Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  mapa/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  {i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


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Additional  comments:/ 
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□    Coloured  pages/ 
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E 


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Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
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obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


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Th«  copy  filmtd  h«r«  hat  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

McLennan  Library 
McGill  University 
(Montreal 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
posaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif Icationa. 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
gin^roait*  da: 

IMcLennan  Library 

IVIcGill  University 

Montreal 

Laa  imagaa  auhrantaa  ont  At*  rap^oduitaa  avac  la 
plua  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  I'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
eonformit*  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
bag?nning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  bacic  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa* 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  imprim*a  sont  film*s  an  comman^nt 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darni*ra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  aont  film*a  an  commandant  par  la 
prami*ra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darni*ra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Un  daa  symbolaa  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dami*ra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbols  --^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Mapa,  plataa,  charta.  ate.,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  comar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Laa  cartaa.  planchaa.  tablaaux.  ate.  pauvant  Atra 
film*a  A  daa  taux  da  r*duction  diff*rants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  ciich*.  il  aat  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angia  supAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  A  droita. 
at  da  haut  wn  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nAcassaira.  I.as  diagrammaa  suivants 
illuatrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ONE  OF  THE  EVILS  OF  SNOW-SHOE  WALKING. 


Pag«233. 


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SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS;  v' 


THE  YOUNG   FUR   TRADERS. 


A  TALE  OF  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


BT 


ROBERT  MICHAEL  BALLANTYNE,  Esq., 

AUTIIOK  or  "anOSON's  bat;  or,  EVEHYDAT  UFE  in  TUE  wilds  of  NOBTH  AMEftlCA." 


«ti« 


lUit^  CUustrattons  bs  tlje  ^ut[)or. 


T.  NELSON  AND  SONS,  LONDON;  EDINBURGH; 

AND    NEW     YORK. 


MDCCCLXI. 


PREFACE. 


In  writing  this  book  my  desire  has  been  to  draw 
Jin  exact  copy  of  the  picture  which  is  indelibly 
stamped  on  my  own  memory.  I  have  carefully 
avoided  exaggeration  in  everything  of  importance. 
All  the  chief,  and  most  of  the  minor  incidents  are 
facts.  In  regard  to  unimpoi-tant  matters  I  have 
taken  the  Ubei*ty  of  a  novelist, — not  to  colour  too 
highly,  or  to  invent  improbabilities,  but, — to  trans- 
pose time,  place,  and  circumstance  at  pleasure ; 
while,  at  the  same  time,  I  have  endeavoured  to 
convey  to  the  reader's  mind  a  truthful  impression 
of  the  general  effect, — to  use  a  painter's  language, — ■ 
of  the  life  and  countrv  of  the  Fur  Trader. 


Edimbukoii,  1S(>6. 


By  Sune  Author, 

HUDSON'S   BAY: 


OR, 

E^'ERYDAY  LIFE  IN  THE  WILDS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 

"  The  name  of  the  author  of  this  bnolc,  presnmlnj?  him  to  be  a  connexion 
of  Sir  Walter  Scott's  printer  and  partner,  is  a  passpoit  throuRh  tlie  world 
ofliteratare,  and  lie  travels  pleasantly  with  it.  Mr.  Bullantyne's  boolc  is 
pleasant  to  read  and  pleasant  to  reflect  on."— EconomM. 

"Mr.  Bullantyne  1ms  n  claim  on  attention  fi-om  the  vivacity  of  his  style, 
and  the  lenfrth  of  his  experience  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Dav 
Company,  lie  has  an  eye  fur  minute  points  of  character,  and  a  talent 
for  throwing  out  a  vivid  portrait  with  a  few  pencil  strokes.  The  occasional 
brief  stories  thrown  in  to  illustrate  the  general  nan-ative  are  told  with  skill 
and  spirit."— ^^Aencrun. 

"Mr.  Ballantyne  writes  in  a  very  lively  style,  and  there  is  some  quiet 
humour  in  his  first  impressions  of  the  new  scenes  and  associates  into  which 
he  suddenly  found  himself  thnist  We  commend  his  book  which  does  him 
great  credit — it  is  unaffected  and  to  the  purpose,  written  in  an  honest 
8traightfor^vard  style,  and  is  full  of  real  interest  and  amusement" — Black* 
wood's  Magazine. 


M 

■Peter  A 

fl 

■       gat 

-^1 

1        wa: 

CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Plunges  the  reader  into  the  middle  of  an  arctic  winter;  conveys 
him  into  tlie  heart  of  the  wilderness  of  North  America; 
and  introduces  him  to  some  of  the  principal  personages  of 
our  tule,         ....... 


PAui: 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  old  fur-trader  endeavours  to  "fix"  his  son's  "flint,"  and 
finds  the  tiling  niuru  difficult  to  do  than  he  expected,  . 


n 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  counting-room, 


21 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  wulf-hunt  in  the  prairies  ;  Cliarley  astonishes  his  father,  and 
breaks  in  the  "  nuo 'oss  "  efl'ectually,  .  .  . 


82 


CHAPTER  V. 

[Peter  Mactavish  becomes  an  amateur  doctor ;  Charley  promul- 
gates his  views  of  things  in  general  to  Kate;  and  Kate 
waxes  sagacious,         ...... 


51 


CHAPTER  VI. 


ISpriug  and  the  voyayeurs, 


C5 


CHAPTER  VII. 


Che  store. 


;i 


1! 
l! 


Iv 


CONTENTP. 


CHAPTER  VIII.  PAGU 

Farewell  to  Kate  ;  departure  of  the  brigade ;  Charley  becomes  a 

voyageur,       ..<....         S9 

CHAPTER  IX. 

The  voyage ;  the  encampment ;  a  surprise,         ...         95 

CHAPTER  X. 
Varieties,  yexations,  and  vicissitudes,      ....        IH 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Charley  aud  Harry  begin  their  sporting  career,  withont  much 

success ;  Whisky-john  catching,        ....        122 


CHAPTER  XII. 


The  storm. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  canoe;  ascending  the  rapids;  the  portage;  deer-shuutiug 
and  life  in  the  woods,  ..... 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Indian  camp  ;  the  new  outpost ;  Charley  sent  on  a  mission 
to  the  Indians,  ..... 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  feast ;   Charley  makes  his  first  speech  in  public ;  meets 
with  an  old  fviend  ;  an  enemy  in  the  grass, 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  return  ;  narrow  escape ;  a  murderous  attempt,  which  fails  ; 
and  a  discovery,         ...... 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

The  scene  changes ;  Bachelors'  Hall ;  a  practical  juke  and  its 
consequences;  a  snow-shoe  walk  at  night  in  the  forest, 


133 


l.'a 


I'iB 


101 


207 


218 


CONTEXTS. 


PAGU 


I  a 


CHAPTER  XV III.  TAOB 

The  walk  continued  ;  frozen  toes  ;  an  encaini)ment  in  the  snow,         23G 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Shews  how  the  accountant  and  Harry  set  their  traps,  and  what 

came  of  it,       .  .  .  .  .  .  .        250 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  accountant's  story,     ...»•.        262 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Ptarmigan-hunting ;     Hamilton's    shooting    powers    severely 
tested  ;  a  snow-storm,  ..... 


275 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  winter  packet ;  Harry  hears  from  old  friends,  and  wishes 
that  be  was  with  them,  ..... 


287 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Changes ;  Harry  and  Hamilton  find  that  variety  is  indeed  charm- 
ing ;  the  latter  astonishes  the  former  considerably,  . 


308 


neeta 


101 


fails ; 


207 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Hopes  and  fears ;  an  unexpected  meeting ;  philosophical  talk 

between  the  hunter  and  the  parson,  .  .  .        321 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

(Jood  news  and  louiantic  scenery ;  bear-hunting  and  its  results,        336 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

An  unexpecte<J  meeting,  and  an  unexpected  deer-hunt.:  arrival 
at  the  uutpost;  uisagreement  with  the  natives;  an  enemy 
discovered,  and  a  murder,     .....        348 


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I' 

1 


Vl 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

The  chase ;  the  fight ;    retribution.      Low  spirits,  and  goofl 
uews^  ••••••• 


365 


(1 


•|! 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Old  friends  and  scenes ;  coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before,        3S2 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  first  day  at  home ;  a  gallop  in  the  prairie,  and  its  conse- 
quences, ....... 


395 


CHAPTER  XXX. 
Love.— Old  Mr  Kennedy  puts  his  foot  in  it,         .  •  .        405 

*  CHAPTER  XXXI. 

The  course  of  true  love,  curiously  enough,  runs  smooth  for  ouce ; 

and  the  curtain  falls,  •  <  »  «  .414 


SNOWFLAIvES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


FROM 


THE  FAR  NORTH. 


OHAPTER  I. 


Plunges  the  reader  into  the  middle  of  an  Arctic  Winter;  conveys  him  into  the 
heart  of  the  Wildernesses  of  North  America ;  and  introduces  him  to  some  of 
the  principal  personages  of  our  Tale.  '"^^^ 

|Snowflakes  and  sunbeams,  heat  and  cold,  winter  and 
summer,  alternated  with  their  wonted  regularity  for 
fifteen  years  in  the  wild  regions  of  the  Far  North.  Dur- 
ing this  space  of  time,  the  hero  of  our  tale  sprouted  from 
Lahyhood  to  boyhood,  passed  through  the  usual  amount 
of  accidents,  ailments,  and  vicissitudes  incidental  to  those 
periods  of  life,  and,  finally,  entered  upon  that  ambiguous 
condition  that  precedes  early  manhood. 

It  was  a  clear  cold  winter's  day.      The  sunbeams  of 

Rummer  were  long  i)ast,  and  snowflakes  had  fallen  thickly 
)n  the  banks  of  lied  River.     Charley  sat  on  a  lump  of 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEA313 


blue  ice,  liia  head  drooping,  and  liis  eyes  bent  on  the 
snow  at  his  feet,  with  an  expression  of  deep  disconsolation. 

Kate  reclined  at  Charley's  side,  looking  wistfully  up  in 
his  expressive  face,  as  if  to  read  the  thoughts  that  were 
chasing  each  other  through  his  mind,  like  the  ever-vary- 
ing clouds  that  floated  in  the  winter  sky  above.  It  was 
quito  evident  to  the  most  careless  observer,  that,  what- 
ever might  be  le  usual  temperaments  of  the  boy  and 
girl,  their  present  state  of  mind  was  not  joyous,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  very  sad. 

"  It  won't  do,  sister  Kate,"  said  Charley ;  "  I've  tried 
him  over  aud  over  again ;  I've  implored,  begged,  and 
entreated  him  to  let  me  go ;  but  he  won't — and  I'm  deter- 
mined tonm  away,  so  there's  an  end  of  it !" 

As  Charley  gave  utterance  to  this  unalterable  resolu- 
tion, he  rose  from  the  bit  of  blue  ice,  and,  taking  Kate 
by  the  hand,  led  her  over  the  frozen  river,  climbed  up 
the  bank  on  the  opposite  side — an  operation  of  some  diffi- 
culty, owing  to  the  snow,  which  had  been  drifted  so  deeply 
during  a  late  storm  that  the  usual  track  was  almost  obli- 
terated— and,  turning  into  a  path  that  lost  itself  among 
the  willows,  they  speedily  disappeared. 

As  it  is  possible  our  reader  may  desire  to  know  who 
Charley  and  Kate  are,  and  the  part  of  the  world  in  which 
they  dwell,  we  will  interrupt  the  thread  of  our  narrative 
to  explain. 

In  the  very  centre  of  the  great  continent  of  North 
America,  far  removed  from  the  abodes  of  civilised  men, 
and  about  twenty  miles  to  the  south  of  Lake  Winipeg,  ex- 
ists a  colony,  composed  of  Indians,  Scotchmen,  and  French- 
Canadians,  which  is  known  by  the  name  of  Ked  River 
Settlement.      Red  River  differs  from  most  colonies  in 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


more  respects  than  one — the  chief  differences  being,  that 
whereas  other  colonies  chister  on  the  sea-coast,  this  one  lies 
many  handreds  of  miles  in  the  interior  of  the  country, 
and  is  surrounded  by  a  wilderness;  and,  while  other 
colonics,  acting  on  the  golden  rule,  export  their  produce 
in  return  for  goods  imported,  this  of  Red  River  imports 
a  large  quantity  and  exports  nothing,  or  next  to  nothing. 
Not  but  that  it  might  export,  if  it  only  had  an  outlet  or  a 
market ;  but,  being  eight  hundred  miles  removed  from 
the  sea,  and  five  hundred  miles  from  the  nearest  market, 
with  a  series  of  rivers,  lakes,  rapids,  and  cataracts  separat- 
ing from  the  one,  and  a  wide  sweep  of  treeless  prairie 
dividing  from  the  other,  the  settlera  have  long  since 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  they  were  bom  to  consume 
their  own  produce,  and  so  regulate  the  extent  of  their 
farming  operations  by  the  strength  of  their  appetites. 
Of  course,  there  are  many  of  the  necessaries,  or  at  least 
the  luxuries,  of  life,  which  the  colonists  cannot  grow — 
such  as  tea,  coffee,  sugar,  coats,  trowsers,  and  shirts  ;  and 
wliich,  consequently,  they  procure  from  England,  by 
means  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Fur  Company's  ships,  which 
sail  once  a-year  from  Gmvesend,  laden  with  supplies  for 
the  trade  carried  on  with  the  Indians.  And  the  bales 
containing  these  articles  are  conveyed  in  boats  up  the 
rivers,  carried  past  the  waterfalls  and  rapids  overland  on 
the  shoulders  of  stalwart  voyageurs,  and,  finally,  landed  at 
Red  River,  after  a  rough  trip  of  many  weeks'  duration. 
The  colony  was  founded  in  1811,  by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk, 
previously  to  which  it  had  been  a  trading  post  of  the  Fur 
Company.  At  the  time  of  which  we  write,  it  contained 
about  5000  souls,  and  extended  upwards  of  fifty  miles 
along  the  Red  and  Assinaboine  rivers,  which  streams  su[)- 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I 


fl 


plied  the  settlers  with  a  variety  of  excellent  fish.  The 
banks  were  clothed  with  fine  trees ;  and  immediately  be- 
hind the  settlement  lay  the  great  prairies,  wliich  extend 
in  undulating  waves — almost  entirely  devoid  of  shrub  or 
tree — to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Although  far  removed  from  the  civilised  world,  and 
containing  witliin  its  precincts  much  that  is  savage,  and 
very  little  that  is  refined.  Red  River  is  quite  a  popu- 
lous paradise,  as  compared  with  the  desolate,  solitary 
establishments  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Fur  Company.    These 
lonely  dwellings  of  the  trader  ai'e  scattered  far  and  wide 
over  the  whole  continent — north,  south,  east,  and  west. 
Their  population  generally  amounts  to  eight  or  ten  men 
— seldom  to  thirty.      They  are  planted  in  the  thick  of 
an  uninhabited  desert — their  next  neighbours  being  from 
two  to  five  hundred  miles  ofi" — their  occasional  visitors, 
bands  of  wandering  Indians — and  the  sole  object  of  their 
existence  being  to  trade  the  furry  hides  of  foxes,  martens, 
beavers,  badgei"s,  bears,  bufialoes,  and  wolves.      It  will 
not,  then,  be  deemed  a  matter  of  wonder,  that  the  gentle- 
men who  have  charge  of  these  establishments,  and  who, 
perchance,  may  have  spent  ten  or  twenty  yeara  in  them, 
should  look  upon  the  colony  of  Red  River  as  a  species  of 
Elysium — a  sort  of  haven  of  rest,  in  which  they  may  lay 
their  weary  heads,  and  spend  the  remainder  of  their  days 
in  peaceful  felicity,  free  from  the  cares  of  a  residence 
among  wild  beasts  and  wild  men.     Many  of  the  retiring 
traders  prefer  casting  their  lot  in  Canada;  but  not  a  few 
of  them  smoJce  out  the  remainder  of  their  existence  in  this 
colony — especially  those  who,  having  left  home  as  boys 
fifty  or  sixty  years  before,  cannot  reasonably  expect  to 
find  the  friends  of  their  childhood  where  they  left  them, 


# 


rorld,  and 
ivage,  and 
e  a  popu- 
B,  solitary 
ny.   These 
and  wide 
and  west. 
)r  ten  men 
le  tliick  of 
being  from 
lal  visitors, 
set  of  their 
|s,  martens, 
It  will 
the  gentle- 
i,  and  who, 
L-s  in  them, 
species  of 
|ey  may  lay 
their  days 
residence 
|he  retiring 
not  a  few 
snce  in  this 
lO  as  boys 
expect  to 
left  them, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH.  Q 

find  cannot  hope  to  re-model  tastes  and  habits  long  nur- 
tured in  the  backwoods,  so  as  to  relish  the  manners  and 
customs  of  civilised  society. 

Such  an  one  was  old  Frank  Kennedy,  who,  sixty  years 
before  the  date  of  our  story,  ran  away  from  school  in 
Scotland ;  got  a  severe  tlirasliing  from  his  father  for  so 
doing,  and,  having  no  mother  in  whose  sympathising 
bosom  he  could  weep  out  his  sorrow,  ran  away  from 
home,  went  to  sea,  ran  away  from  his  ship  while  she  lay 
at  anchor  in  the  harbour  of  New  York,  and  after  leading 

wanderinff,  unsettled  life  for  several   years — during 


a 


^O' 


wliich  he  had  been  alternately  a  clerk,  a  day-labourer, 
a  store-keeper,  and  a  village-schoolmaster — he  wound  up 
by  entering  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
in  which  he  obtained  an  insight  into  savage  life,  a  com- 
foi-table  fortune,  besides  a  half-breed  wife  and  a  large 
family. 

Being  a  man  of  great  energy  and  courage,  and,  more- 
i  over,  possessed  of  a  large,  powerful  frame,  he  was  sent  to 
[one  of  the  most  distant  posts  on  the  Mackenzie  River,  as 
jeing  admirably  suited  for  the  display  of  his  powers  both 
lental  and  physical.  Here  the  small-pox  broke  out 
among  the  natives ;  and,  besides  canying  off  hundreds  of 
tliese  poor  creatures,  robbed  Mr  Kennedy  of  all  his 
children  save  two,  Charles  and  Kate,  whom  we  have 
ah-eady  introduced  to  the  reader. 

About  the  same  time  the  council  which  is  annually 
held  at  Red  River  in  spring,  for  the  purpose  of  an-anging 
the  affairs  of  the  country  for  the  ensuing  year,  thought 
proper  to  appoint  Mr  Kennedy  to  a  still  more  outlandish 
|)art  of  the  country — as  near,  in  fact,  to  the  North  Pole 
|is  it  was  possible  for  mortal  man  to  live, — and  sent  him 


•  I 


6 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


an  order  to  proceed  to  his  destination  without  loss  of 
time.  On  receiving  this  communication,  Mr  Kennedy 
upset  liis  chair,  stamped  his  foot,  gi-ound  liis  teeth,  and 
vowed,  in  the  hearing  of  his  wife  and  children,  that, 
sooner  than  obey  the  mandate,  he  would  see  the  governors 
and  council  of  Rupeii's  Land  hanged,  quartered,  and 
boiled  down  into  tallow  !  Ebullitions  of  this  kind  were 
peculiar  to  Frank  Kennedy,  and  meant  nothing.  They 
werq  simply  the  safety-valves  to  his  supembundant  ii"e — 
and,  like  safety-valves  in  general,  made  much  noise  but 
did  no  damage.  It  was  well,  however,  on  such  occasions 
to  keep  out  of  the  old  fur-trader's  way,  for  he  had  an 
irresistible  propensity  to  hit  out  at  whatever  stood  before 
him — especially  if  the  object  stood  on  a  level  with  liis 
own  eyes  and  wore  whiskers.  On  second  thoughts,  how- 
ever, he  sat  down  before  his  writing-table,  took  a  sheet 
of  blue  ruled  foolscap  paper,  seized  a  quill  which  he  had 
mended  six  months  previously,  at  a  time  when  he  hap- 
pened to  be  in  high  good -humour,  and  wrote  as  follows  : — 


To  the  Governnr  and  Council  of  Rupert's  Land, 
Red  River  Settlement. 


FOBT  PAREISECny, 

June  15t/i,  18 — . 


Gentlemen, — I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  re- 
ceijit  of  your  favour  of  2Cth  April  last,  appointing  me 
to  the  charge  of  Peel's  River,  and  directing  me  to  strike 
out  new  channels  of  trade  in  that  quarter.  In  reply, 
I  have  to  state  that  I  shall  have  the  honour  to  fulfil  your 
instinictions  by  taking  my  departure  in  a  light  canoe 
as  soon  as  possible.  At  the  same  time  I  beg  humbly 
to  submit,  that  the  state  of  my  health  is  such  as  to  render 
it  expedient  for  me  to  retire  from  the  sei-vice,  and  I 


'ft.  J- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


herewith  beg  to  hand  in  my  resignation.  I  shall  hope  to 
1)0  relieved  early  next  spring. — I  have  the  honour  to  bo, 
gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  humble  sei*vant, 

F.  Kennedy. 


"  There !"  exclaimed  the  old  gentleman,  in  a  tone  that 
would  lead  one  to  suppose  he  had  signed  the  death- 
warrant,  and  so  had  iiTevocably  fixed  the  certain  de- 
struction, of  the  entire  council — "  there !"  said  he,  rising 
fi-ora  his  chair  and  sticking  the  quill  into  the  ink-bottle 
with  a  dab  that  split  it  up  to  the  feather,  and  so  rendered 
it  hors  de  combat  for  all  time  coming. 

To  this  letter  the  council  gave  a  short  reply,  accepting 
his  resignation,  and  appointing  a  successor.  On  the 
following  spring,  old  Mr  Kennedy  embai'ked  his  wife  and 
children  in  a  bark  canoe,  and  in  process  of  time  landed 
them  safely  in  Red  River  Settlement.  Here  he  pur- 
chased a  house  with  six  acres  of  land,  in  which  he  planted 
a  variety  of  useful  vegetables,  and  built  a  summer-house, 
.  after  the  fashion  of  a  conservatory,  where  he  was  wont  to 
[solace  himself  for  houra  together  with  a  pipe,  or,  rather, 
[with  dozens  of  pipes,  of  Canada  twist  tobacco. 

After  tliis  he  put  his  two  children  to  school     The 
settlement  was,  at  this  time,  fortunate  in  having  a  most 
•  excellent    academy,   w^hich  was    conducted   by  a  veiy 
i  estimable    man.     Charles    and    Kate    Kennedy,    being 
[obedient  and  clever,  made  rapid  progress  under  his  judi- 
cious management ;  and  the  only  fault  that  he  had  to  find 
[with  the  young  people  was,  that  Kate  was  a  little  too 
quiet  and  fond  of  books,  while  Charley  was  a  little  too 
[riotous  and  fond  of  fun. 

When  Charles  arrived  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  Kate 


8 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


attained  to  fourteen  years,  old  Mr  Kennedy  went  into 
liis  conservatory,  locked  the  door,  sat  down  on  an  easy 
chair,  filled  a  long  clay  pipe  with  his  beloved  tobacco, 
smoked  vigorously  for  ten  minutes,  and  fell  fast  asleep. 
In  this  condition  he  remained  until  the  pipe  fell  from  his 
lips  and  broke  in  fragments  on  the  floor.  He  then  rose, 
filled  another  pipe,  and  sat  down  to  meditate  on  the  sub- 
ject that  had  brought  him  to  his  smoking  apartment. 
"  There's  my  wife,"  said  he,  looking  at  the  bowl  of  his 
pipe,  as  if  he  were  addressing  himself  to  it,  "  she's  getting 
too  old  to  be  looking  after  everything  herself  (puff),  and 
Kate's  getting  too  old  to  be  humbugging  any  longer  with 
books  ;  besides  she  ought  to  be  at  home  learning  to  keep 
house,  and  help  her  mother,  and  cut  the  baccy  (puff),  and 
that  young  scamp  Charley  should  be  entering  the  service 
(puff) ;  he's  clever  enough  now  to  trade  beaver  and  bears 
from  the  red-skins,  besides  he's  (puff)  a  young  rascal,  and 
I'll  be  bound  does  notliing  but  lead  the  other  boys  into  (puff) 
mischief — although,  to  be  sure,  the  master  does  say  he's 
the  cleverest  fellow  in  the  school ;  but  he  must  be  reined 
up  a  bit  now.  '  I'll  clap  on  a  double  curb  and  martingale. 
I'll  get  him  a  situation  in  the  counting-room  at  the  fort 
(puff),  where  he'll  have  his  nose  held  tight  to  the  grind- 
stone. Yes,  I'll  fix  both  their  flints  to-mon'ow," — and  old 
Mr  Kennedy  gave  vent  to  another  pufi*  so  thick  and  long, 
that  it  seemed  as  if  all  the  previous  puffs  had  concealed 
themselves  up  to  this  moment  within  his  capacious  chest, 
and  rushed  out  at  last  in  one  thick  and  long-continued 
streanL 

By  "  fixing  their  flints,"  Mr  Kennedy  meant  to  express 
the  fact,  that  he  intended  to  place  his  children  in  an 
entirely  new  sphere  of  action ;  and,  with  a  view  to  this, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


he  ordered  out  bis  horse  and  cariolo"*  on  the  following 
morning,  went  up  to  the  school,  which  waa  about  ten 
miles  distant  from  his  abode,  and  brought  his  children 
home  with  him  the  same  evening.  Kate  was  now  for- 
mally installed  as  housekeeper  and  tobacco-cutter  ]  while 
Charley  was  told  that  his  future  destiny  was  to  wield  the 
quill  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 
that  he  might  take  a  week  to  think  over  it.  Quiet, 
warm-hearted,  affectionate  Kate  was  overjoyed  at  the 
thought  of  being  a  help  and  comfort  to  her  old  father  and 
mother ;  but  reckless,  joyous,  good-humoured,  hare- 
brained Charley  was  cast  into  the  depths  of  despair  at 
[the  idea  of  spending  the  live-long  day,  and  day  after  day, 
[for  years  it  might  be,  on  the  top  of  a  long-legged  stool. 
[n  fact,  poor  Charley  said  that  he  "  would  rather  become 
buffalo  than  do  it."  Now,  this  was  very  wrong  of 
)harley,  for,  of  course,  he  didn't  mean  it.  Indeed,  it  is 
}o  much  a  habit  among  little  boys,  aye,  and  among 
pown-up  people  too,  to  say  what  they  don't  mean ;  as, 
doubt,  you  are  aware,  dear  reader,  if  you  possess  half 
le  self-knowledge  we  give  you  credit  for  ;  and  we  cannot 
strongly  remonstrate  with  ourself  and  others  against 
ie  practice — ^leading,  as  it  does,  to  all  sorts  of  absurd  ex- 
fgerations,  such  as  gravely  asserting  that  we  are  broiling 
)t,  when  we  are  simply  rather  warm,  or,  more  than  half 
iad  with  fatigue,  when  we  are  merely  very  tired.  How- 
rer,  Charley  said  that  he  would  rather  be  "  a  buffalo  than 
it,"  and  so  we  feel  bound  in  honour  to  record  the  fact. 
Charley  and  Kate  were  warmly  attached  to  each  other, 
[oreover,  they  had  been,  ever  since  they  could  walk,  in 
le  habit  of  mingling  their  little  joys  and  sorrows  in  each 

•  Asort  of  glelgh. 

2 


10 


8X0WFLAKES  AND  SUNIJKAMS 


I 


•itlior's  bosoms  ;  and  altboiigh,  aa  yoai*s  flow  past,  tlit'y 
gradually  ceased  to  sob  in  each  other's  arms  at  every  little 
mishai),  ^^^^Y  ^'*^  ^^t  cea.Ho  to  interchange  their  inmost 
thoughts,  and  to  mingle  their  tcai-s  when  occasion  called 
them  forth.  They  knew  the  power,  tho  inexpressible 
sweetness,  of  sympathy.  They  understood,  experiment- 
ully,  the  comfort  and  joy  that  flow  from  obedience  to  that 
blessed  commandment,  to  "  rejoice  with  those  that  do  re- 
joice, and  weep  with  those  that  weep."  It  was  natural, 
tlicrcfore,  that  on  Mr  Kennedy  announcing  his  decrees, 
Charley  and  Kate  should  hasten  to  some  retired  spot 
where  they  could  commune  in  solitude  ;  the  effect  of  which 
.-communing  was,  to  reduce  them  to  a  somewhat  calmer 
and  rather  happy  state  of  mind.  Charley's  sorrow  was 
blunted  by  sympathy  with  Kate's  joy,  and  Kate's  joy 
was  subdued  by  sympathy  with  Charley's  sorrow ;  »o 
that,  after  the  first  effervescing  burst,  they  settled  down 
into  a  calm  and  comfortable  state  of  flatness,  with  very 
led  eyes  and  exceedingly  pensive  minds.  We  must, 
however,  do  Charley  the  justice  to  say,  that  the  red  eyes 
applied  only  to  Kate ;  for,  although  a  tear  or  two  could, 
without  much  coaxing,  be  induced  to  hop  over  his  sun- 
burnt cheek,  he  had  got  beyond  that  period  of  life  when 
boys  are  addicted  to  (we  must  give  the  word,  though  not 
pretty,  becaiise  it  is  eminently  expressive)  hluhhering. 

A  week  later  found  Charley  and  his  sister  seated  on 
tlu;  lump  of  blue  ice  where  they  were  first  introduced  to 
the  reader,  and  where  Charley  announced  his  unalterable 
lesolvo  to  run  away  ;  following  it  up  ^vith  the  statement, 
that  that  was  "  the  end  of  it."  He  was  quite  mistaken, 
however,  for  that  was  by  no  means  the  end  of  it.  In  fact 
it  was  only  the  beginning  of  it,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter. 


FROM  TUE  FAR  NORTH. 


u 


past,  tlioy 
3very  little 
eir  inmost 
axon  callt'il 
cxpressiljlo 
xperimcut- 
lucc  to  that 
that  do  re- 
ras  natural, 
his  decrees, 
retired  spot 
Bct  of  which 
ftrhat  calmer 
sorrow  was 
L  Kate's  joy 
sorrow;    s<> 
jettled  down 
;8,  with  very 

We   must, 

|the  red  eyes 

|r  two  could, 

|ver  his  sun- 

of  life  when 

though  not 
\hhenng. 

sr  seated  on 

itroduced  tu 
unalterablo 

[e  statement, 

;e  mistaken, 
it.     In  fact 

le  hereafter. 


CHAPTER  11. 

The  old  fur-trndcr  endeavours  to  •'  fix  "  Ills  son's  "  flint," 'and  finds  tlio  tl.tng 
more  ditilcult  to  du  than  he  expected. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  colony  of  lied  River,  the  stream 
[from  which  the  settlement  derives  its  name  is  joined  by 
luothei",  called  the  Assinaboine.  About  five  or  six 
Imndred  yards  from  the  point  where  this  union  takes 
)lace,  and  on  the  banks  of  the  latter  stream,  stands  tlu; 
[udaon's  Bay  Company's  trading  post,  Fort  Garry.  It  is 
massive  square  building  of  stone.  Four  high  and  thick 
irulls  enclose  a  space  of  ground  on  which  are  built  six  or 
ight  wooden  lu)uses,  some  of  which  are  used  as  dwellings 
\i'  the  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 
<ifcli('rs  as  stores,  wherein  are  contained  the  fui-s,  the  pro- 
^ions  which  are  sent  annually  to  various  parts  of  tlm 
OBjuntry,  and  the  goods  (such  as  cloth,  guns,  powder  and 
)t,  blankets,  twine,  axes,  knives,  <kc.,  &c.)  with  which 
fur-trade  is  carried  on.  Although  Red  River  is  a 
icefnl  colony,  and  not  at  all  likely  to  be  assaulted  by 
poor  Indians,  it  wa.s,  nevertheless,  deemed  prudent 
the  trnders  to  make  some  show  of  power ;  and  so,  at 
corners  of  the  fort,  four  round  bastions  of  a  very 
[posing  appearance  were  built,  from  the  embrazures  of 
Mch  several  large  black-muzzled  guns  protruded.  No 
ever  conceived  the  idea  of  firinjj  these  enjjines  of 
iv  ;   nnd,   indeed,   it   is  higlily  probable  that  such   an 


12 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


1 


attempt  -would  have  been  attended  with  consequences 
much  more  dreadful  to  those  behind  than  to  those  who 
might  chance  to  be  in  front  of  the  guns.  Nevertheless, 
they  were  imposing,  and  harmonised  well  with  the  flag- 
staff, which  was  the  only  other  military  symptom  about 
the  place.  This  latter  was  used  on  particular  occasions, 
such  as  the  arrival  or  departure  of  a  brigade  of  boats, 
for  the  purpose  of  displaying  the  folds  of  a  red  flag,  on 
which  were  the  letters  H.  B,  C. 

The  fort  stood,  as  we  have  said,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Assinaboine  river,  on  the  opposite  side  of  which  the  land 
was  somewhat  wooded,  though  not  heavily,  with  oak, 
maple,  poplar,  aspens,  and  willows,  while,  at  the  back  of 
the  fort,  the  great  prairie  rolled  out  like  a  green  sea  to 
the  horizon,  and  far  beyond  that  again  to  the  base  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  The  plains  at  this  time,  however, 
were  a  sheet  of  unbroken  snow,  and  the  river  a  mass  of 
solid  ice. 

It  w  as  noon  on  the  day  following  that  on  which  our 
friend  Charley  had  threatened  rebellion,  when  a  tall 
elderly  man  might  have  been  seen  standing  at  the  back 
gate  of  Fort  Garry,  gazing  wistfully  out  into  the  prairie 
in  the  dii'ection  of  the  lower  part  of  the  settlement.  He 
was  watching  a  small  speck  wliich  moved  rapidly  over  the 
snow  in  the  direction  of  the  fort. 

"  It's  very  like  our  friend  Frank  Kennedy,"  said  he  to 
himself  (at  least  we  presume  so,  for  there  was  no  one  else 
within  earshot  to  whom  he  could  have  said  it,  except  the 
fJoor-post,  which,  every  one  knows,  is  proverbially  a  deaf 
subject).  "  No  man  in  the  settlement  drives  so  furiously. 
I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he  ran  against  the  corner  of  the 
new  fence  now.     Ha  !  just  so — there  he  goes  ! " 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


13 


equences 
lose  who 
ertheless, 

the  flag- 
om  about 
occasions, 

of  boats, 
d  flag,  on 

iks  of  the 
h  the  land 
with  oak, 
he  back  of 
:een  sea  to 
base  of  the 
,  however, 
r  a  mass  of 

which  our 
hen  a  tall 
it  the  back 
the  prairie 
ment.  He 
Lly  over  the 

r  said  he  to 
|no  one  else 

except  the 
lially  a  deaf 
jo  furiously. 

bner  of  the 


m 


And,  truly,  the  reckless  driver  did  "go"  just  at  that 
moment.  He  came  up  to  the  corner  of  the  new  fence, 
w  liere  the  road  took  a  rather  abrupt  turn,  in  a  style  that 
insured  a  capsize.  In  another  second,  the  spirited  horse 
turned  sharp  round,  the  sleigh  turned  sharp  over,  and 
the  occupant  was  pitched  out  at  full  length,  while  a  black 
oliject,  that  might  have  been  mistaken  for  his  hat,  rose 
from  his  side  like  a  rocket,  and,  flying  over  him,  landed 
on  the  snow  several  yards  beyond.  A  faint  shout  was 
heard  to  float  on  the  breeze  as  this  catastrophe  occurred, 
and  the  driver  was  seen  to  jump  up  and  re-adjust  himself 
in  the  cariole ;  while  the  other  black  object  proved  itself 
not  to  be  a  hat,  by  getting  hastily  up  on  a  pair  of  legs, 
and  scrambling  back  to  the  seat  from  which  it  had  been 
so  unceremoniously  ejected. 

In  a  few  minutes  more  the  cheerful  tinkling  of  the 
merry  sleigh-bells  was  heard,  and  Frank  Kennedy,  ac- 
companied by  his  hopeful  son  Charles,  dashed  up  to  the 
gate,  and  pulled  up  with  a  jerk. 

"  Ha  !  Grant,  my  fine  fellow,  how  "^re  you  1 "  exclaimed 
Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  as  he  disengaged  himself  from  the 
heavy  folds  of  the  buffalo  robe,  and  shook  the  snow  from 
liis  greatcoat.  "  Why  on  earth,  man,  don't  you  put  up  a 
.sign-post  and  a  board  to  warn  travellers  that  you've  been 
j-unning  out  new  fences  and  changing  the  road,  eh  ? " 

"  Why,  my  good  friend,"  said  Mr  Grant,  smiling, 
"tlie  fence  and  the  road  are  of  themselves  pretty  con- 
clusive proof  to  most  men  that  the  road  is  changed ; 
and,  besides,  we  don't  often  have  people  driving  round 
corners  at  full  gallop  ;  but '* 

"  Hallo  !  Charley,  you  rascal,"  interrupted  Mr  Kennedy 

-"  here,  take  tlie  marc  to  the  stable,  and  don't  drive  her 


14 


SNOWFLAKES  AND.  SUNBEAMS 


i] 


too  fast.  ^Mind,  now,  no  going  off  upon  the  wrong  road 
for  the  sake  of  a  drive,  vou  nndei-stand." 

"  All  right,  father,"  exchiimed  the  boy,  while  a  bright 
smile  lit  up  his  features  and  displayed  two  rows  of  white 
teeth — "I'll  be  particularly  careful ;"  and  he  sprang  into 
tlio  light  vehicle,  seized  the  reins,  and  with  a  sharp  crack 
of  the  whi])  dashed  down  the  road  at  a  hard  gallop. 

"  He's  a  fine  fellow  that  son  of  yours,"  said  Mr  Grant, 
"  and  will  make  a  first-rate  fur-trader." 

"  Fur-trader  !"  exclaimed  Mr  Kennedy — "just  look  at 
him  !  I'll  be  shot  if  he  isn't  thrashing  the  mare  as  if  she 
were  made  of  leatlier."  The  old  man's  ire  was  rising 
rapidly  as  he  heard  the  whip  crack  eveiy  now  and  then, 
and  saw  the  mare  bound  madly  over  the  snow. 

"  And  see  ! "  he  continued,  "  I  declare  he  has  taken 
tlie  wrong  turn  after  all." 

"  True,"  said  Mr  Grant ;  "  he'll  never  reach  the 
stable  by  that  road — he's  much  more  likely  to  visit  the 
White-horse  Plains.  But  come,  friend,  it's  of  no  use 
fretting.  Charley  will  soon  tire  of  his  ride,  so  come  witli 
me  to  my  room  and  have  a  ]>ipe  before  diinier." 

Old  Mr  Kennedy  gave  a  shoi't  groan  of  despair,  shook 
Ids  fist  at  tlie  form  of  his  retreating  son,  and  accompanied 
liis  friend  to  the  house. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  Frank  Kennedy  Avas 
very  deei)ly  offended  with  his  son,  althougli  lie  did  shower 
on  him  a  considerable  amo\int  of  abuse.  On  the  conti-aiy, 
he  loved  him  very  much.  But  it  Avas  the  old  man's  nature 
to  give  way  to  little  bui-sts  of  passion  on  almost  every 
occasion  in  which  his  feelings  were  at  all  excited.  These 
bursts,  however,  were  like  the  little  puffs  that  ripple  the 
surface  of  the  sea  on  a  calm  summer's  day.     They  were 


I 
-it- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


15 


>  a  bright 
of  white 
rang  into 
arp  crack 
op. 
rlr  Grant, 


Lst  look  at 
5  as  if  she 
vas  rising 
and  then, 


has  taken 

Teach   the 

visit  the 

of  no  use 

3ome  with 

[\ir,  shook 
jompanied 

nedy  was 

lid  shower 

contraiy, 

Ill's  nature 

lost  every 

d.     These 

•ipple  the 

?hey  were 


over  in  a  second,  and  left  his  good-humoured,  rough, 
candid  countenance  in  unruffled  serenity.  Charley  knew 
this  well,  and  loved  his  father  tenderly,  so  that  his  con- 
science frequently  smote  liim  for  raising  his  anger  so 
often;  and  he  over  and  over  again  promised  his  sister  Kate 
to  do  his  best  to  refrain  from  doing  anything  that  was 
likely  to  annoy  the  old  man  in  future.  But  alas  !  Charley's 
resolves,  like  those  of  many  other  boys,  were  soon  for- 
gotten, and  his  father's  equanimity  was  upset  generally 
two  or  three  times  a-day;  but  after  the  gust  was  over, 
the  fur-trader  would  kiss  his  son,  call  liim  a  "rascal," 
and  send  him  off  to  fill  and  fetch  his  pipe. 

Mr  Grant,  who  was  in  charge  of  Fort  Garry,  led  the 
way  to  his  smoking  apartment,  where  the  two  were  soon 
seated  in  front  of  a  roaring  log-fire,  emulating  each  other 
in  the  manufacture  of  smoke. 

"  Well,  Kennedy,"  said  Mr  Grant,  throwing  himself 
back  in  his  chair,  elevating  his  chin,  and  emitting  a  long, 
thin  stream  of  white  vapour  from  his  lips,  through  which 
he  gazed  at  his  friend  complacently,  "  Well,  Kennedy,  to 
what  fortunate  chance  am  I  indebted  for  this  visit  ?  It 
is  not  often  that  we  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  vou 
here." 

Mr  Kennedy  created  two  large  volumes  of  smoke, 
which,  by  means  of  a  vigorous  puff,  he  sent  rolling  over 
towards  his  friend,  and  said,  "  Charley." 

"  And  what  of  Charley  ?"  said  IVIr  Grant,  with  a  smile, 
for  he  was  well  aware  of  the  boy's  propensity  to  fun,  and 
[  of  the  father's  desire  to  curb  it. 

"  The  fact  is,"  replied  Kennedy,  "  that  Charley  must 
I'O  broke.  He's  the  ^vildest  colt  I  ever  had  to  tame,  but 
111  do  it— I  will— that's  a  fact." 


16 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


'f 


ll 


If  Charley's  sulrjugation  had  depended  on  the  rapidity 
M-ith  which  the  little  white  clouds  proceeded  from  his 
sire'a  mouth,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  would  have  been  a 
"  fact"  in  a  very  short  time,  for  they  rushed  from  him 
with  the  violence  of  a  high  wind.  Long  habit  had  made 
the  old  trader  and  his  pipe  not  only  inseparable  com- 
jiiuiions,  but  part  and  parcel  of  each  other — so  intimately 
connected  that  a  change  in  the  one  was  sure  to  produce 
a  sympathetic  change  in  the  other.  In  the  present 
instance,  the  little  clouds  rapidly  increased  in  size  and 
numbei  as  the  old  gentleman  thought  on  the  obstinacy  of 
his  "colt." 

"  Yes,"  he  continued,  after  a  moment's  silence,  "  I've 
made  up  my  mind  to  tame  him,  and  I  want  ycnij  Mr 
Grant,  to  help  me." 

Mr  Grant  looked  as  if  he  would  rather  not  undertake 
to  lend  his  aid  in  a  work  that  was  evidently  difficult ;  but, 
l)eing  a  good-natured  man,  he  said,  "  And  how,  friend, 
can  I  assist  in  the  operation  ?" 

"  "Well,  you  see,  Charley's  a  good  fellow  at  bottom,  and  a 
clever  fellow  too — at  least  so  says  the  schoolmaster — 
thoiigh  I  must  confess,  that  so  far  as  my  experience  goes, 
lie's  only  clever  at  finding  out  excuses  for  not  doing  what 
I  want  him  to.  But  still,  I'm  told  he's  clever,  and  can 
use  his  pen  well ;  and  I  know  for  certain  that  he  can  use 
his  tongue  well.  So  I  want  to  get  him  into  the  service, 
and  have  him  placed  in  a  situation  where  he  shall  have  to 
stick  to  his  desk  all  day.  In  fact,  I  want  to  have  him 
broken  in  to  work  j  for  you've  no  notion,  sir,  how  that 
boy  talks  about  bears  and  buffaloes  and  badgers,  and  life 
in  the  woods  among  the  Indians.  I  do  believe,"  continued 
the  old  gentleman,  waxing  warm,  "  that  he  would  willingly 


'■r 
* 


4 
I 


1 


ne 
in 

an 
vii 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


17 


rapidity 
rom  hi3 
3  been  a 
•om  him 
ad  made 
ale  com- 
timately 
produce 
present 
size  and 
binacy  of 

le,  "I've 
yoiij  Mr 

ndertake 

^It  j  but, 

,  friend, 

>m,  and  a 
taster — 
ice  goes, 

Ing  what 
md  can 
can  use 
service, 
have  to 
Lve  him 
)w  that 
md  life 
itinued 
[illingly 


go  into  the  woods  to-moiTow,  if  I  would  let  him,  and 
never  shew  his  nose  in  the  settlement  again.  He's  quite 
incorrigible.     But  I'll  tame  him  yet ;  I  will ! " 

Mr  Kennedy  followed  this  up  with  an  indignant  grunt, 
and  a  puff  of  smoke,  so  thick,  and  propelled  with  such 
vigour,  that  it  rolled  and  curled  in  fantastic  evolu- 
tions  towards  the  ceiling,  as  if  it  were  unable  to  control 
itself  with  delight  at  the  absolute  certainty  of  Charley 
being  tamed  at  last. 

Mr  Grant,  however,  shook  his  head,  and  remained  for 
five  minutes  in  profound  silence,  during  which  time  the 
two  friends  puffed  in  concert,  until  they  began  to  grow 
quite  indistinct  and  ghost-like  in  the  thick  atmosphere. 

At  last  he  broke  silence. 

"  My  opinion  is,  that  you're  wi'ong,  Mr  Kennedy.  No 
doubt,  you  know  the  disposition  of  your  son  better  than  I 
do  ;  but  even  judging  of  it  from  what  you  have  said,  I'm 
quite  sure  that  a  sedentary  life  will  ruin  him." 

"  Ruin  him  !  Humbug  ! "  said  Kennedy,  who  never 
failed  to  express  his  opinion  at  the  shortest  notice,  and 
in  the  plainest  language, — a  fact  so  well  known  by  his 
friends,  that  they  had  got  into  the  habit  of  taking  no 
notice  of  it.  "Humbug!"  he  repeated,  "perfect  hum- 
bug !  You  don't  mean  to  tell  me,  that  the  way  to  break 
him  in,  is  to  let  him  run  loose  and  wild  whenever  and 
wherever  he  pleases  ?" 

"  By  no  means.  But  you  may  rest  assured  that  tying 
him  do^vn  won't  do  it." 

"Nonsense!"  said  Mr  Kennedy,  testily ;  "don't  tell 
nie.  Have  I  not  broken  in  young  colts  by  the  score  ? 
tiiid  don't  I  know  that  the  way  to  fix  their  flints,  is  to 
clap  on  a  good  strong  curb  ?" 


18 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I 


'*  If  you  luul  triivclled  fai-tlier  south,  friend,"  replied 
Mr  Gmnt,  "  you  would  have  seen  the  Spaniards  of  Mexico 
Itreak  in  their  wild  horses  in  a  very  different  way ;  for, 
after  catching  one  with  the  lasso,  a  fellow  gets  on  his 
back,  and  gives  it  the  rein  and  the  whip — aye,  and  the 
si»ur,  too ;  and  before  tliat  race  is  over,  there  is  no  need 
for  a  curb." 

"What!"  exclaimed  Kennedy,  "and  do  you  mean  to 
argue  from  that,  that  I  should  let  Charley  iiui — and  /telp 
him  too  ?  Send  him  off  to  the  woods  with  gun  and 
blanket,  canoe  and  tent,  all  complete  ?"  The  old  gentle- 
man puffed  a  furious  puff,  and  broke  into  a  loud  sar- 
castic laugh. 

"  No,  no,"  interrupted  Mr  Grant ;  "  I  don't  exactly 
mean  that ;  but  I  think  that  you  might  give  him  his 
way  for  a  year  or  so.  He's  a  fine,  active,  generous  fellow  ; 
and  after  the  novelty  wore  off,  he  would  be  in  a  much 
better  frame  of  mind  to  listen  to  your  proposals.  Besides," 
(and  Mr  Grant  smiled  expressively),  "Charley  is  some- 
what like  his  father.  He  has  got  a  will  of  his  own ;  and 
if  you  do  not  give  him  his  way,  I  very  much  fear  that 
he'll " 

"What?"  inquired  Mr  Kennedy,  abruptly. 

"  Take  it,"  said  Mr  Grant. 

The  puff  that  burst  from  Mr  Kennedy's  lips,  on  hearing 
this,  would  have  done  credit  to  a  thirty-six  pounder. 

"  Take  it ! "  said  he.     "  He'd  better  not." 

The  latter  part  of  this  speech  was  not,  in  itself,  of  a 
nature  calculated  to  con^'^ey  much ;  but  the  tone  of  the 
old  trader's  voice,  the  contraction  of  his  eyebrows,  and, 
above  all,  the  overwhelming  flow  of  cloudlets  that  followed, 
imparted   to   it  a  significance  that   induced   the  belief 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


19 


tliat  Charley's  taking  his  own  way  would  be  pi-oductiNe  of 
uiuio  terrilic  consequence?  than  it  was  in  the  power  of 
the  most  highly  imaginative  man  to  conceive. 

"  There's  his  sister  Kate,  now,"  continued  the  old 
gontlenum  ;  "  she's  as  gentle  and  biddable  as  a  lamb.  I've 
(luly  to  say  a  word,  and  she's  off  like  a  shot  to  do  my 
biddins  ;  and  she  does  it  with  such  a  sweet  smile  too."' 
There  was  a  touch  of  pathos  in  the  old  trader's  voice  as 
he  said  this.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  feeling,  and  as  iin- 
jtulsive  in  liis  tenderness  as  in  his  wi'ath.  "  But  that 
rascal,  Charley,"  he  continued,  "  is  quite  different.  He's 
( ibstinate  as  a  mule.  To  be  sure,  he  has  a  good  temper  ; 
and  I  must  say  for  him  he  never  goes  into  the  sulks, 
which  is  a  comfort,  for,  of  all  things  in  the  world,  sulking 
is  the  most  cliildish  and  contemptible.  He  generally  does 
\\  hat  I  bid  him,  too.  But  he's  always  getting  into  scrapes 
of  one  kind  or  other.  And  during  the  last  week,  not- 
withstanding all  I  can  say  to  him,  he  won't  admit  that  the 
best  tiling  for  him  is  to  get  a  place  in  your  counting-room, 
with  the  prospect  of  rapid  promotion  in  the  service.  Very 
odd.  I  can't  iindei-stand  it  at  all  j "  and  Mr  Kennedy 
heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

"  Did  you  ever  explain  to  him  the  prospects  that  ho 
would  have  in  the  situation  you  propose  for  him  ] " 
inquired  Mr  Grant. 

"  Can't  say  I  ever  did." 

"  Did  you  ever  point  out  the  probable  end  of  a  life 
spent  in  the  woods  ? " 

"  No." 

"  Nor  suggest  to  him  that  the  appointment  to  the 
otfice  here  would  only  be  temporary,  and  to  see  hoAv  he 
<'( )t  on  in  it  ? " 


20 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUXBEAMS 


*'  Certainly  not." 

"  Then,  my  dear  sir,  I'm  not  surprised  tluit  Charley 
rebels.  You  have  left  him  to  suppose  that,  once  placed 
at  the  desk  here,  he  is  a  prisoner  for  life.  But  see,  there 
lie  is,"  said  Mr  Grant,  pointing,  as  he  spoke,  towards  the 
subject  of  their  conversation,  who  was  passing  the  "window 
at  the  moment,  "  let  me  call  him,  and  I  feel  certain  that 
lie  will  listen  to  reason  in  a  few  minutes." 

"  Humph  ! "  ejaculated  Mr  Kennedy,  "  you  may  try." 

In  another  minute  Charley  had  been  summoned,  and 
was  seated,  cap  in  hand,  near  the  door. 

"  Charley,  my  boy,"  began  Mr  Grant,  standing  with 
his  back  to  the  fire,  his  feet  pretty  wide  apart,  and  his 
coat-tails  undpr  his  arms — "  Charley,  my  boy,  your  father 
has  just  been  speaking  of  you.  He  is  very  anxious  that 
you  should  enter  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
jiany ;  and  as  you  are  a  clever  boy  and  a  good  penman, 
we  think  that  you  would  be  likely  to  get  on  if  placed  for 
a  year  or  so  in  our  office  here.  I  need  scarcely  point  out 
to  you,  my  boy,  that  in  such  a  position  you  would  be  sure 
to  obtain  more  rapid  promotion,  than  if  you  were  placed 
in  one  of  the  distant  outposts,  where  you  would  have 
very  little  to  do,  and  perhaps  little  to  eat,  and  no  one  to 
converse  with,  except  one  or  twO  men.  Of  course,  we 
would  merely  place  you  here  on  trial  to  see  how  you 
suited  us ;  and  if  you  prove  steady  and  diligent,  there 
is  no  saying  how  fast  you  might  get  on.  Why,  you 
might  even  come  to  fill  my  place  in  course  of  time  ! 
Come  now,  Charley,  what  think  you  of  it  ? " 

Charley's  eyes  had  been  cast  on  the  ground  while  Mr 
Cirant  was  speaking.  He  now  raised  them,  looked  at  his 
father,  then  at  his  interrogator,  and  said — 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


21 


you 
there 

I  time  ! 

le  Mr 

lat  his 


"  It  is  very  kiiul  of  you  both  to  be  so  anxious  about 

my  prospects.      I  thank  you,  indeed,  very  much;  but 

I»» 
— a 

"  Don't  like  the  desk  1"  said  his  father,  in  an  angry 
tone.     "  Is  that  it,  eh  ? " 

Charley  made  no  reply,  but  cast  down  his  eyes  again 
and  smiled  (Charley  had  a  sweet  smile,  a  peculiarly  sweet, 
candid  smile),  as  if  he  meant  to  say  that  his  father  had  hit 
the  nail  quite  on  the  top  of  the  head  that  time,  and  no 
mistake. 

"  But  consider,"  resumed  Mr  Grant,  "  although  you 
might  probably  be  pleased  with  an  outpost  life  at  first, 
you  would  be  sure  to  grow  weaiy  of  it  after  the  novelty 
wore  off,  and  then  you  would  wish  with  all  your  heart  to 
be  back  here  again.  Believe  me,  child,  a  trader's  life  is  a 
very  hard  and  not  often  a  very  satisfactory  one '* 

"  Aye,"  broke  in  the  father,  desirous,  if  possible,  to 
help  the  argument,  "and  you'll  find  it  a  desperately 
wild,  unsettled,  roving  sort  of  life,  too,  let  me  tell 
you !  full  of  dangers  both  from  wild  beasts  and  wild 
men ^" 


m 


"  Hush,"  interrupted  Mr  Grant,  observing  that  the 
boy's  eye  kindled  when  his  father  spoke  of  a  wild,  roving 
life,  and  vnld  beasts,  "your  father  does  not  mean  that 
life  at  an  outpost  is  wild,  and  interesting^  or  exciting.  He 
merely  means  that — a — it " 

Mr  Gmnt  could  not  very  well  explain  what  it  was  that 
Mr  Kennedy  meant,  if  he  did  not  mean  that,  so  he  turned 
to  him  for  help. 

"  Exactly  so,"  said  that  gentleman,  taking  a  strong 
pull  at  the  pipe  for  inspiration.  "  It's  no  ways  interest- 
ing or  exciting   at   all.     It's   slow,  dull,  and   flat.     A 


»)«) 


SXOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


iiiisertiMe  sort  of  RobiuMou  Cnisoe  lite,  with  reel  IndianH 
iind  starvation  constantly  staring  you  in  the  face " 

"  liesides,"  said  Mr  Grant,  again  interrupting  the 
somewhat  unfortunate  efforts  of  his  friend,  who  seemed  to 
have  a  happy  facility  in  sending  a  brilliant  dash  of 
romantic  allusion  across  the  dark  side  of  his  picture — 
"  besides,  you'll  not  have  opportunity  to  amuse  your- 
self, or  to  read,  as  you'll  have  no  books,  and  you'll  have 
to  work  hard  with  your  hands  oftentimes,  like  your 
men " 

"  In  fact,"  broke  in  the  impatient  father,  resolv(>d, 
apparently,  to  carry  the  point  with  a  grand  "coup" — "  In 
fact,  you'll  have  to  rough  it,  as  I  did,  when  I  went 
lip  the  IMackenzie  River  district,  where  I  was  sent  to 
establish  a  new  post,  and  had  to  travel  for  weeks  and 
w  eeks  through  a  wild  countiy,  where  none  of  us  had  ever 
been  before — where  we  shot  our  own  meat,  caught  our  own 
fish,  and  built  our  own  house, — and  were  very  nea,"  being 
murdered  by  the  Indians — though,  to  be  sure,  aftcrwaivls 
they  became  the  most  civil  fellows  in  the  country,  and 
l»rought  us  plenty  of  skins.  Ay,  lad,  you'll  rej)ent  of 
your  obstinacy  when  you  come  to  have  to  hunt  your  own 
dinner,  as  I've  done  many  a  day  up  the  Saskatchewan, 
where  Fve  had  to  fight  with  i-edskins  and  grizzly  bears, 
and  to  chase  the  buffaloes  over  miles  and  miles  of  prairie 
on  rough -going  nags  till  my  bones  ached  and  I  scarce 

knew  whether  I  sat  on " 

"  Oh  ! "  exclaimed  Charley — starting  to  his  feet,  while 
his  eyes  flashed  and  his  chest  heaved  with  emotion — 
"  that's  the  place  for  me,  father  !  Do,  jjlease,  Mr  Grant, 
si'ud  me  there,  and  I'll  work  for  yon  with  all  my 
tnght!" 


Ills 

cut] 


FROM  THE  FAK  NOKTH. 


2:) 


Fnmk  Kennedy  was  uot  a  man  to.  stand  this  im- 
exjK.'CKjd  miscarriage  of  liis  eloquence  with  equanimity. 
His  tirst  action  was  to  throw  his  pij)e  at  the  head  of  his 
enthusiastic  hoy,  without  woi*se  effect,  however,  than 
Muasliing  it  to  atoms  on  the  opposite  wall.  Ho  then 
started  up  and  rushed  towards  his  son,  wlio,  being  near 
the  door,  retreated  precipitately  and  vanished. 

"  So,"  said  Mr  Grant,  not  very  sure  whether  to  laugli 
or  he  angiy  at  the  result  of  their  united  efforts,  "you've 
Ki^ttled  the  question  now,  at  all  events." 

Frank  Kennedy  said  nothing,  but  filled  another  pilM', 
pat  doggedly  down  in  front  of  the  tire,  and  siHjedily 
enveloped  himself,  and  his  friend,  and  all  that  the  room 
contained,  in  thick  impenetrable  clouds  of  smoke. 

Meanwhile  his  worthy  son  nished  off  in  a  state  of 
gieat  glee.  He  had  often  heard  the  vojiayeurs  of  Red 
Kiver  dilate  on  the  delights  of  roughing  it  in  the  woods, 
and  his  heart  had  bounded  as  they  spoke  of  dangers 
encountered  and  overcome  among  the  I'apids  of  the  Far 
North,  or  with  the  bears  and  bison-bulls  of  the  prairie, 
but  never  till  now  had  he  heard  his  father  corroborate 
their  testimony  by  a  recital  of  his  own  actual  exjierience  ; 
and  although  the  old  gentleman's  intenti(,)n  was  un- 
doubteilly  to  damp  tlie  boy's  spirit,  his  eloquence  had 
exactly  the  opposite  effect — so  that  it  was  with  a  hop  and 
a  shout  that  he  burst  into  the  counting-room,  with  the 
occupants  of  which  Charley  was  a  special  favourite. 


*".>* 


*M 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAM8 


CHAPTER  III. 


The  Counting-room. 


Every  one  knows  the  general  appearance  of  a  counting- 
room.  There  are  one  or  two  peculiar  features  about 
such  apartments  that  are  quite  unmistakable  and  very 
characteristic ;  and  the  counting-room  at  Fort  Garry, 
although  many  hundred  miles  distant  from  other  speci- 
mens of  its  race,  and,  from  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
its  position,  not  therefore  likely  to  bear  them  much 
resemblance,  possessed  one  or  two  features  of  similarity, 
in  the  shape  of  two  large  desks  and  several  very  tall 
stools,  besides  sundry  ink-bottles,  rulers,  books,  and 
sheets  of  blotting-paper.  But  there  were  other  imple- 
ments there,  savouring  strongly  of  the  backwoods  and 
savage  life,  which  merit  more  particular  notice. 

The  room  itself  was  small,  and  lighted  by  two  Mttle 
windows,  which  opened  into  the  court-yard.  The  entire 
apartment  was  made  of  wood.  The  floor  was  of  unpainted 
fir  boards.  The  walls  were  of  the  same  material,  painted 
blue  from  the  floor  upwards  to  about  three  feet,  where 
tlie  blue  was  unceremoniously  stopped  short  by  a  stripe 
of  bright  red,  above  which  the  somewhat  fanciful  decorator 
had  laid  on  a  coat  of  pale  yellow ;  and  the  ceiling,  by  way 
of  variety,  was  of  a  deep  ochre.  As  the  occupants  of  Red 
River  office  were,  however,  addicted  to  the  use  of  tobacco 


KKOM  TUK  FAU  MOUTH. 


S0 


and  tallow  candles,  the  original  colour  of  the  ceiling  had 
\  aiiishud  entirely,  and  that  »  f  the  walla  had  considerably 
chaugecL  <  .     , 

There  were  throe  doors  in  the  room  (besides  the  door 
of  entrance),  each  opening  into  another  apartment,  where 
the  three  clerks  were  wont  to  court  the  favour  of  Morpheus 
after  the  labours  of  the  day.  No  carpets  graced  the  floors 
of  any  of  these  rooms,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the 
[)aint  afore-mentioned,  no  ornament  whatever  broke  the 
pleasing  uniformity  of  the  scene.  Tliis  was  compensated, 
however,  to  some  extent,  by  several  scarlet  sashes,  bright- 
coloured  shot-belts,  and  gjiy  portions  of  winter  costume 
peculiar  to  the  country,  wliich  depended  from  sundry 
nails  in  the  bedroom  walls ;  and,  as  the  three  doors  always 
stood  open,  these  objects,  together  with  one  or  two 
fowling-i)ieces  and  canoe-paddles,  formed  quite  a  brilliant 
and  highly  suggestive  background  to  the  otherwise  sombre 
picture.  A  large  open  fireplace  stood  in  one  corner  of  the 
[room,  devoid  of  a  grate,  and  so  constructed  that  large  logs 
)f  wood  might  be  piled  up  on  end  to  any  extent.  And 
really  the  fires  made  in  this  manner,  and  in  this  individual 
^fireplace,  were  exquisite  beyond  description.  A  wood 
[fire  is  a  particularly  cheerful  thing.  Those  who  have 
[never  seen  one  can  form  but  a  faint  idea  of  its  splendour ; 
especially  on  a  sharp  winter  night  in  the  arctic  regions, 
[where  the  thermometer  falls  to  forty  degrees  below  zero, 
[without  inducing  the  inhabitants  to  suppose  that  the 
Iworld  has  reached  its  conclusion.  The  billets  are  usually 
[piled  up  on  end,  so  that  the  flames  rise  and  twine  round 
[them  with  a  fierce  intensity  that  causes  them  to  crack 
land  sputter  cheerfully,  sending  innumerable  sparks  of  fire 
[into  the  room,  and  tlu'owing  out  a  rich  glow  of  brilliant 

3 


1» 


2n 


SXOWFLAKES  AXD  SUXHEAMS 


light  that  svanus  a  man  even  to  look  at  it,  and  rendei'S 
candles  quite  unnecessary. 

The  clerks  who  inhabited  this  counting-room  were,  like 
itself,  peculiar.  There  were  three — con*esponding  to  the 
bedrooms.  The  senior  was  a  tall,  broad-shouldered,  mus- 
cular man — a  Scotchman — very  good-humoured,  yet  a 
man  whose  under  lip  met  the  upper  with  that  peculiar 
degree  of  pi-f'cision  that  indicated  the  presence  of  other 
qualities  besides  that  of  g()0(1-humour.  He  was  book- 
keeper and  accountant,  and  managed  the  aflaii*s  entrusted 
to  his  care  with  the  same  dogged  pei'severance  with  which 
he  would  have  led  an  expedition  of  discovery  to  the 
iNorth  Pole.     He  was  thirty  or  thereabouts. 

The  second  was  a  small  man — also  a  Scotchman.  It  is 
en ri oils  to  note  how  numerous  Scotchmen  are  in  the  wilds 
(^f  North  America.  This  specimen  was  diminutive  and 
sharp.  Moreover,  he  played  the  flute, — an  accomplishment 
of  which  he  was  so  proitd,  that  he  ordered  out  from 
England  a  flute  of  ebony,  so  elaborately  enriched  with 
silver  keys  that  one's  fingers  ached  to  behold  it.  This 
beautiful  instrument,  like  most  other  instruments  of  a 
delicate  nature,  found  the  climate  too  much  for  its  con- 
stitution, and,  soon  after  the  winter  began,  split  from  top 
to  bottom.  Peter  Mactavish,  however,  was  a  genius  by 
nature,  and  a  mechanical  genius  by  tendency;  so  that, 
instead  of  giving  way  to  despair,  he  laboriously  bound  the 
jlute  together  with  waxed  thread,  which,  although  it  could 
not  restore  it  to  its  pristine  elegance,  enabled  him  to  play 
with  great  effect  sundry  doleful  airs,  whose  influence, 
when  performed  at  night,  usually  sent  his  companions  to 
sleep,  or,  failing  this,  drove  them  to  distraction. 

The  third  inhabitant  of  the  office  was  a  mddy  smooth- 


FKOM  THE  FAU  NORTH. 


27 


d  rendei-a 

were,  like 
ing  to  the 
ered,  miis- 
red,  yet  a 
bt  peculiar 
e  of  other 
was  book- 
i  entrusted 
fvith  which 
Ty  to  the 

lan.     It  is 

1  the  -wilds 

lutive  and 

iplishment 

out  from 

iched  with 

it.     This 

aents  of  a 

3r  its  con- 

t  from  top 

genius  by 

(\  so  that, 

bound  the 

;h  it  could 

im  to  play 

influence, 

panions  to 

ly  smooth- 


cliiuned  youth  of  about  fourteen,  who  had  left  home  seven 
months  before,  in  the  hope  of  gratifying  a  desire  to  lead  a 
\\  ild  life,  which  he  had  entertained  ever  since  he  read 
"  Jack  the  Giant  Killer,"  and  found  himself  most  un- 
expectedly fastened,  during  the  greater  part  of  each  day, 
to  a  stool.  His  name  was  Harry  Somerville,  and  a  fine 
cheerful  little  fellow  he  was, — full  of  spirits,  and  curiously 
aildicted  to  poking  and  arranging  the  fire,  at  least  every 
ten  minutes — a  propensity  which  tested  the  forbearanco 
t)f  the  senior  clerk  rather  severely,  and  would  liave  sur- 
prised any  one  not  aware  of  poor  Harry's  incurable 
antipathy  to  the  desk,  and  the  yeai'ning  desire  with 
which  he  longed  for  physical  action. 

Harry  was  busily  engaged  with  the  refractory  firo, 
when  Charley,  as  stated  at  the  conclusion  of  the  last 
chapter,  burst  into  the  room. 

"  Hallo  !"  he  exclaimed,  suspending  his  operations  for 
a  moment,  "what's  up?"  "Nothing,"  said  Charley, 
"  but  fiither's  temper,  that's  all.  He  gave  me  a  s[»lendid 
description  of  his  life  in  the  -"oods,  and  then  threw  his 
;pipe  at  me  because  I  admired  it  too  much." 

"  Ho  !"  exclaimed  Harry,  making  a  vigorous  thrust  at 
?4the  fire,  "  then  you've  no  chance  now." 
"  No  chance  !  what  do  you  mean  1" 
"  Only  that  we  are  to  have  a  wolf-hunt  in  the  plains  to- 
uni-ow,  and  if  you've  aggravated  your  father,  he'll  be 
aking  you  home  to-night,  that's  all." 

"  Oh  !  no  fear  of  that,"  said  Charley,  with  a  look  that 

eemed  to  imply  that  there  was  very  great  fear  of  "  that," 

nuch  more,  in  fact,  tlian  he  was  willing  to  admit  even  to 

iimself.    "  My  dear  old  father  never  keeps  his  anger  lojig. 

'ill  sure  that  he'll  be  all  right  iigaiii  in  half-an-hour." 


M 


%^ 


28 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I.  I 


}^  1 


"Hope  so,  but  doubt  it  I  do,"  said  Harrj',  making 
another  deadly  poke  at  the  fire,  and  returning,  with  a 
deep  sigh,  to  his  stool. 

"Would  you  like  to  go  with  us,  Charley?"  said  the 
senior  clerk,  laying  down  his  pen  and  turning  round  on 
his  chair  (the  senior  clerk  never  sat  on  a  stool)  with  a 
benign  smile. 

"  Oh  !  very,  very  much  indeed,"  cried  Charley ;  "  but 
even  should  father  agree  to  stay  all  night  at  the  fort, 
I  have  no  horse,  and  I'm  sure  he  would  not  let  me  have 
the  mare  after  what  I  did  to-day.' 

"  Do  you  think  he's  not  open  to  persuasion  V  (said  tho 
senior  clerk. 

"  No,  I'm  sure  he's  not." 

"  Well,  well,  it  don't  much  signify ;  perhaps  we  can 
mount  you.!' 

Charley's  face  brightened. 

"Go,"  he  continued,  addressing  Harry  Somerville, 
"  go,  tell  Tom  Whyte  I  wish  to  speak  to  him." 

Harry  sprang  from  his  stool  with  a  suddenness  and 
vigour  that  might  have  justified  the  belief  that  he  had 
been  fixed  to  it  by  means  of  a  powerful  spring,  which 
had  been  set  free  with  a  sharp  recoil,  and  shot  him  out  at 
the  door,  for  he  disappeared  in  a  trice.  In  a  few  minutes 
he  returned,  followed  by  the  groom  Tom  Whyte. 

"  Tom,"  said  the  senior  clerk,  "  do  you  tliink  we  could 
manage  to  mount  Charley  to-morrow  ?" 

"Why,  sir,  I  don't  think  as  how  we  could.  There 
aint  an  'oss  in  the  stable  except  them  wot's  required  and 
them  wot's  badly." 

"Couldn't  he  have  the  brown  pony?"  suggested  the 
senior  clerk. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


29 


Tom  Whyte  was  a  cockney,  and  an  old  soldier,  and 
stood  so  bolt  upright  that  it  seemed  quite  a  mai-vel  how 
the  words  ever  managed  tc  climb  up  the  steep  ascent 
of  his  throat,  and  turn  the  corner  so  as  to  get  out  at  his 
mouth.  Perhaps  this  was  the  cause  of  his  speaking  on 
all  occasions  with  great  deliberation  and  slowness. 

"  Why,  you  see,  sir,"  he  replied,  "  the  brown  pony's 
got  cut  under  the  fetlock  of  the  right  hind  leg ;  and  I 
'ad  'im  down  to  L'Esperance  the  smith's,  sir,  to  look 
at  'im,  sir ;  and  he  says  tc  me,  says  he,  *  That  don't  look 
well  that  'oss  don't,' — and  he's  a  knowing  feller,  sir,  is 
L'Esperance,  though  he  is  an  'alf-breed " 

"Never  mind  what  he  said,  Tom,"  interrupted  the 
senior  clerk ;  "  is  the  pony  fit  for  uso  ?  that's  the  question." 

"  No,  sir,  'e  haint." 

"  And  the  black  mare,  can  he  not  have  that  1 " 

"  No,  sir,  Mr  Grant  is  to  ride  'er  to-morrow." 

"That's  unfortunate,"  said  the  se.  ior  clerk;  "I  fear, 
Cliarley,  that  you'll  need  to  ride  behind  Hariy  on  his 
gray  pony.  It  wouldn't  improve  his  speed,  to  be  sure, 
having  two  on  his  back,  but  then  he's  so  like  a  pig  in 
his  movements  at  any  rate,  I  don't  think  it  would  spoil 
his  pace  much." 

"  Couid  he  not  try  the  new  horse  ?"  he  continued,  turn- 
ing to  the  groom. 

"  The  noo  'oss,  sir !  he  might  as  well  try  to  ride  a  mad 
bufialo  bull,  sir.  He's  quite  a  young  colt,  sir,  only  'alf- 
broke — kicks  like  a  windmill,  sir,  and's  got  an  'ead  like  a 
steam-engine ;  'e  couldn't  'old  'im  in  no  'ow,  sir.  I  'ad  'im 
down  to  the  smith  'tother  day,  sir,  an'  says  'e  to  me, 
says  'e,  '  That's  a  screamer,  that  is.'  *  Yes,'  says  I,  '  that 
his  a  fact:     '  WtV  '  says  'e ^" 


r-^. 


30 


SXOWFLAKES  AXD  SUNBEAMS 


"  Hang  the  smith,"  cried  the  senior  clerk,  losing  all 
patience,  "  can't  you  answer  me  without  so  much  talk  ? 
Is  the  horse  too  wild  to  ride  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,  'e  is,"  said  the  groom,  with  a  look  of 
slightly  offended  dignity,  and  drawing  himself  up — if  we 
may  use  such  an  expression  to  one  who  was  always  drawn 
up  to  such  an  extent  that  he  seemed  to  be  just  balanced 
on  his  heels,  and  required  only  a  gentle  push  to  lay  him 
flat  on  his  back. 

"  Oh !  I  have  it,"  cried  Peter  Mactavish,  who  had  been 
standing,  during  the  conversation,  ^vith  his  back  to  the 
fire,  and  a  short  pipe  in  his  mouth — "  John  Fowler,  the 
miller,  has  just  purchased  a  new  pony.  I'm  told  it's  an 
old  bufialo  ruAner,  and  I'm  certain  he  would  lend  it  to 
Charley  at  once." 

"  The  very  thing,"  said  the  senior  clerk.  "  Run,  Tom ; 
give  the  miller  my  compliments,  and  beg  the  loan  of  his 
horse  for  Chai'ley  Kennedy.  I  think  he  knows  you, 
Charley?" 

The  dinner-bell  rang  as  the  groom  departed,  and  the 
clerks  prepared  for  their  mid-day  meal. 

The  senior  clerk's  order  to  "  run "  was  a  mere  form  of 
s])eech,  intended  to  indicate  that  haste  was  desirable. 
No  man  imagined  for  a  moment  that  Tom  Whyte  could, 
by  any  possibility,  tun.  He  hadn't  run  since  he  was 
dismissed  from  the  army,  twenty  years  before,  for  incur- 
able drunkenness  ;  and  most  of  Tom's  friends  entertained 
the  belief,  that  if  he  ever  attempted  to  run,  he  would  crack 
all  over,  and  go  to  pieces  like  a  disentombed  Egyptian 
mummy.  Tom,  therefore,  walked  off  to  the  row  of  build- 
ings inhabited  by  the  men,  where  he  sat  down  on  a  bench 
in  front  of  his  bed,  and  proceeded  leisurely  to  fill  his  pipe. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


31 


Tlie  room  in  which  he  sat  was  a  fair  .s])ecimea  of  the 
dwellings  devoted  to  the  emplvtjes  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
(Jompany  throughout  ihe  country.  It  wuij  large,  and 
low  in  the  roof,  built  entirely  of  wood,  which  was 
unpaiuted, — a  matter,  however,  of  no  consequence,  as, 
I'rom  long  exposure  to  dust  and  tobacco- smoke,  the  floor, 
walls,  and  ceiling,  had  become  one  deep  uniform  brown. 
The  men's  beds  were  constructed  after  the  fashion  of 
berths  on  board  ship,  being  wooden  boxes  ranged  in 
tiers  round  the  room.  Several  tables  and  benches  were 
strewn  miscellaneously  about  the  floor,  in  the  centre  of 
which  stood  a  large  double  iron  stove,  with  the  woi-d 
"  Carrot,  "  stamped  on  it.  This  served  at  once  for  cook- 
ing and  warming  the  place.  Numerous  guns,  axes,  and 
canoe-paddles  hung  round  the  walls  or  were  piled  in 
corners,  and  the  rafters  sustained  a  miscellflncous  mass  of 
materials,  the  more  conspicuous  among  which  were  snow- 
shoes,  dog-sledges,  axe-handles,  and  nets. 

Having  filled  and  lighted  his  pipe,  Tom  Whyte  thrust 
his  hands  into  his  deer-skin  mittens,  and  sauntered  off  to 
perform  his  errand. 


'w 


-I  jT 


'>0 


8N0WFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  wolf-hunt  in  tbo  prairies— Charley  astonishes  his  father,  and  breaks  in  the 

"noo  '088  "  effectually. 

During  the  long  winter  that  reigns  in  the  northern 
regions  of  America,  the  thermometer  ranges,  for  many 
months  together,  from  zero  down  to  20,  30,  and  40 
degrees  below  it.  In  different  parts  of  the  country  the 
intensity  of  the  frost  varies  a  little,  but  not  sufficiently  to 
make  ,/  appreciable  change  in  one's  sensation  of  cold. 
At  York  Fort,  on  the  shores  of  Hudson's  Bay,  where  the 
winter  is  eight  months  long,  the  spirit-of-wine  (mercury 
being  useless  in  so  cold  a  climate)  sometimes  falls  so  low 
as  50  degrees  below  zero ;  and  away  in  the  regions  of 
Great  Bear  Lake,  it  lias  been  known  to  fall  considerably 
lower  than  60  degrees  below  zero  of  Fahrenheit.  Cold  of 
such  intensity,  of  course,  produces  many  curious  and  in- 
teresting effects  ;  which,  although  scarcely  noticed  by  the 
inhabitants,  make  a  strong  impression  upon  the  minds  of 
those  who  visit  the  country  for  the  first  time.  A  youth 
goes  out  to  walk  on  one  of  the  first  shai'p,  frosty  morn- 
ings. His  locks  are  brown  and  his  face  ruddy.  In  half- 
an-hour  he  returns  with  his  face  blue,  his  nose  frost- 
bitten, and  his  locks  white — the  latter  effect  being  pro- 
duced by  his  breath  congealing  on  his  hair  and  breast, 
until  both  are  covered  with  hoar-frost.  Perhaps  he  is  of 
a  sceptical  nature,  prejudiced,  it  may  })e,  in  favour  of  old 


r 
■I 


FIIOM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


33 


so  low 
gions  of 
liderably 
Cold  of 
and  in- 
d  by  the 
ninds  of 
L  youth 
y  mom- 
In  half- 
be  frost- 


habits  aud  customs,  so  that,  although  told,  by  those  who 
ought  to  know,  that  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  wear 
moccasins  in  winter,  he  prefers  the  leather  boots  to  which 
he  has  been  accustomed  at  home,  and  goes  out  with  them 
accordingly.  In  a  few  minutes  the  feet  begin  to  lose  sen- 
sation. First  the  toes,  as  far  aa  feeling  goes,  vanish ; 
then  the  heels  depart,  ard  ho  feels  the  extraordinary,  and 
peculiar,  and  altogether  disagreeable  sensation  of  one  who 
has  had  his  heels  and  toes  amputated,  and  is  walking 
about  on  his  insteps.  Soon,  however,  these  also  fade 
away,  and  the  unhappy  youth  rushes  frantically  home 
on  the  stumps  of  his  ankle-bones — at  least  so  it  appears 
to  him — and  so  in  reality  it  would  turn  out  to  be,  if  he 
did  not  speedily  rub  the  benumbed  appendages  into 
vitality  aga'n. 

The  whole  country,  during  this  season,  is  buried  jti 
snow,  and  the  prairies  of  Red  River  present  the  appeax- 
auce  of  a  sea  of  the  purest  white,  for  five  or  six  months  of 
the  year.  Impelled  by  hunger,  troops  of  prairie  wolves 
prowl  round  the  settlement,  safe  from  the  assault  of  man 
in  consequence  of  their  light  weight  permitting  them  to 
scamper  away  on  the  surface  of  the  snow,  into  which 
man  or  horse,  from  their  greater  weight,  would  sink,  so 
as  to  render  pursuit  either  fearfully  laborious,  or  alto- 
gether impossible.  In  spring,  however,  when  the  first 
thaws  begin  to  take  place,  and  commence  that  delightful 
process  of  disruption  which  introduces  this  charming 
season  of  the  year,  the  relative  position  of  wolf  and  man 
is  reversed.  The  snow  becomes  suddenly  soft,  so  that  the 
short  legs  of  the  wolf,  sinking  deep  into  it,  fail  to  reach 
the  solid  ground  below,  and  he  is  obliged  to  drag  heavily 
along,  while  the  long  legs  of  the  horse  enable  him  to 


34 


SN'OWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


plunge  tlirougli  and  diush  aside  the  snow  at  a  rate  which, 
although  not  very  fleet,  is  sufficient,  nevertheless,  to  over- 
take the  chase  and  give  his  rider  a  chance  of  shooting 
it.  The  inhabitants  of  Red  River  are  not  much  addicted 
to  this  sport,  but  the  gentlemen  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Service  sometimes  practise  it ;  and  it  was  to  a  hunt  vt' 
this  description  that  our  young  friend  Charley  Kennoily 
wjis  now  so  anxious  to  go. 

The  morning  was  propitious.  The  sun  blazed  in 
dazzling  splendour  in  a  sky  of  deep  unclouded  blue,  while 
the  white  prairie  glitteied  as  if  it  were  a  sea  of  diamonds 
rolling  out  in  an  unbroken  sheet  from  the  walls  of  the 
fort  to  the  horizon,  and  on  looking  at  which  one  experi- 
enced all  the  pleasurable  feelings  of  being  out  on  a  calm 
day  on  the  wide,  wide  sea,  without  the  disagreeable  con- 
sequence of  being  very,  very  sick. 

The  thermometer  stood  at  39°  in  the  shade,  and 
"  every thin^^,"  as  Tom  Whyte  emphatically  expressed  it, 
"  looked  like  a  runnin'  of  right  away  into  slush."  That 
unusual  sound,  the  trickling  of  water,  so  inexpressibly 
grateful  to  the  ears  of  those  who  dwell  in  frosty  climes, 
was  heard  all  around,  as  the  heavy  masses  of  snow  on 
the  house-tops  sent  a  few  adventurous  drops  gliding  down 
the  icicles  which  depended  from  the  eves  and  gables  ;  and 
there  was  a  balmy  softness  in  the  air  that  told  of  coming 
spring.  Nature,  in  fact,  seemed  to  have  wakened  from 
her  long  nap,  and  was  beginning  to  think  of  getting  up. 
Like  people,  however,  who  venture  to  delay  so  long  as  to 
thmk  about  it,  Nature  frequently  turns  round  and  goes  to 
sleep  again  in  her  icy  cradle  for  a  few  weeks  after  the  first 
awakening. 

The  scene  in  the  court-yard  of  Fort  Garry  harmonised 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


35 


with  the  cheerful  spirit  of  the  morning.  Tom  Whyto, 
with  that  upi'ight  solemnity  which  constituted  one  of  his 
characteristic  features,  was  standing  in  the  centre  of  a 
group  of  horses,  whose  energy  he  endeavoured  to  restrain 
with  the  help  of  a  small  Indian  boy,  to  whom,  mean- 
while, he  imparted  a  variety  of  useful  and  otherwise  un- 
attainable information. 

"  You  see,  Joseph,"  said  he  to  the  urchin,  who  gazed 
gravely  in  his  face  with  a  pair  of  very  large  and  dark 
tyes,  "  ponies  is  often  skittish.  Reason  why  one  should 
be,  an'  another  not,  I  can't  comprehend.  P'raps  its 
nat'ral,  p'r'aps  not,  but  howsomediver  so  'tis,  an'  if  its 
more  nor  above  the  likes  o'  tne,  Joseph,  you  needn't  bo 
surprised  that  it's  somethink  haltogether  beyond  you." 

It  will  not  surprise  the  reader  to  be  told  that  Joseph 
made  no  reply  to  this  speech,  having  a  very  imperfect 
acquaintance  with  the  English  language,  especially  the 
peculiar  dialect  of  that  tongue  in  which  Tom  Whyte  was 
wont  to  express  his  ideas,  when  he  had  any. 

He  merely  gave  a  grunt,  and  continued  to  gaze  at 
Tom's  lishy  eyes,  which  were  about  as  interesting  as  the 
face  to  which  they  belonged,  and  that  might  have  been 
mistaken  for  almost  anything. 

"  Yes,  Joseph,"  he  continued,  "  that's  a  fact.  There's 
the  hoo  brown  'oss  now,  it's  a  skittish  'un.  And  there's 
Mr  Kennedy's  gra/  mare,  wot's  a  standin'  of  beside  me, 
she  aint  skittish  a  bit,  though  she's  plenty  of  spirit,  and 
wouldn't  care  hanythink  for  a  five-barred  gate.  Now, 
wot  I  want  to  know  is,  wot's  the  reason  why  ? " 

We  fear  that  the  reason  why,  however  interesting  it 
might  prove  to  naturalists,  must  remain  a  profound 
secret   for   ever;    for,  just  as  the  groom  was  about  to 


'  J«4C\,  .'-! 


86 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


entertain  Joseph  with  one  of  his  theories  on  the  point, 
Charley  Kennedy  and  Harry  Somerville  hastily  ap- 
proached. 

"  Ho,  Tom ! "  exclaimed  the  former,  "  have  you  got 
the  miller's  pony  for  me  1 " 

"  Why,  no,  sir;  'e  'adn't  got  his  shoes  on,  sir,  last 
night " 

"  Oh !  bother  his  shoes,"  said  Charley,  in  a  voice  of 
great  disappointment.  "  Why  didn't  you  bring  him  up 
without  shoes,  man,  eh  1 " 

"  Well,  sir,  the  miller  said  'e'd  get  'em  put  on  early 
this  mornin',  an'  I  'xpect  'e'll  be  'ere  in  'alf  a  hour  at 
farthest,  sir." 

"  Oh,  very  wpll,"  replied  Charley,  much  relieved,  but 
still  a  little  nettled  at  the  bare  possibility  of  being  late. 
"  Come  along,  Harry,  let's  go  and  meet  him.  He'll  be 
long  enough  of  coming  if  we  don't  go  to  poke  him  up 
a  bit." 

"  You'd  better  wait,"  called  out  the  groom,  as  the  boys 
hastened  away.  "If  you  go  by  the  river  he'll  p'r'apa 
come  by  the  plains,  and  if  you  go  by  the  plains  he'll  p'r'aps 
come  by  the  river." 

Charley  and  Harry  stopped  and  looked  at  each  other. 
Then  they  looked  at  the  groom,  and  as  their  eyes  sur- 
veyed his  solemn,  cadaverous  countenance,  which  seemed 
a  sort  of  bad  caricature  of  the  long  visages  of  the  horses 
that  stood  around  him,  they  burst  into  a  simultaneous 
and  prolonged  laugh. 

"  He's  a  clever  old  lamp-post,"  said  Harry,  at  last ; 
**  we  had  better  remain,  Charley." 

"  You  see,"  continued  Tom  Whyte,  "  the  pony's  'oofs 
is  in  an  'orrible  state.     Last  night  w'en  I  see'd  'im,  I  said 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


37 


to  the  miller,  says  I,  *  John,  I'll  take  'im  down  to  tho 
smith  d'rcctly.'     '  Very  good,'  said  John.     So  I  'ad  him 

down  to  the  smith ^" 

The  remainder  of  Tom's  speech  was  cut  short  by  one  of 
those  unforeseen  operations  of  the  laws  of  nature,  which 
are  peculiar  to  arctic  climates.  During  the  long  winter, 
repeated  falls  of  snow  cover  the  house-tops  with  white 
mantles  upwards  of  a  foot  thick,  which  become  gradually 
thicker  and  more  consolidated  as  winter  advances.  In 
spring,  the  suddenness  of  the  thaw  loosens  these  from  the 
sloping  roofs,  and  precipitates  them  in  masses  to  the 
ground.  These  miniature  avalanches  are  dangerous, 
people  having  been  seriously  injured  and  sometimes  killed 
by  them.  Now,  it  happened  that  a  very  large  mass  of 
snow,  which  lay  on,  and  partly  depended  from,  the  roof 
of  the  house  near  to  which  the  horses  were  standing, 
gave  way,  and  just  at  that  critical  point  in  Tom  Whyte's 
speech  when  he  "  'ad  'im  down  to  the  smith,"  fell  with  a 
stunning  crash  on  the  back  of  Mr  Kennedy's  gray  mare. 
The  mare  was  not  "  skittish  " — by  no  means — according 
to  Tom's  idea,  but  it  would  have  been  more  than  an 
ordinary  mare  to  have  stood  the  sudden  descent  of  half-a- 
ton  of  snow  without  some  symptom  of  consciousness.  No 
sooner  did  it  feel  the  blow,  than  it  sent  both  heels  with  a 
bang  against  the  wooden  store,  by  way  of  preliminary 
movement,  and  then,  rearing  up  with  a  wild  snort,  it 
sprang  over  Tom  Whyte's  hejid,  jerked  the  reins  from  his 
hand,  and  upset  him  in  the  snow.  Poor  Tom  never  bent 
to  anything.  The  military  despotism  under  which  he 
had  been  reared  having  substituted  a  touch  of  the  cap  for 
a  bow,  rendered  it  unnecessary  to  bend ;  prolonged  drill, 
laziness,  and  rheumatism   wade   it  at   last   impossible. 


38 


SXOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


When  lie  stood  up,  ho  did  so  after  the  maiinor  of  a  pillar  , 
when  ho  sat  down,  ho  broke  across  at  two  points,  much 
in  tho  way  in  which  a  foot-rule  would  have  dono,  had  it 
i\i\t  disposed  to  sit  down,  and  wlu-n  he  fell,  he  came 
down  like  an  overturned  lamp-post.  On  tho  j)resent 
occasion,  Tom  became  horizontal  in  a  moment,  and  from 
his  unfoi*tunuto  propensity  to  fall  straight,  his  head, 
reaching  much  farther  than  might  have  been  expecteil, 
cume  into  violent  contact  with  the  small  Indian  boy, 
who  fell  flat  likewise,  letting  go  the  reins  of  the  hoi-ses, 
which  latter  no  sooner  felt  themselves  free,  than  they 
fled,  curvetting  and  snorting  round  the  court,  with  reins 
and  mains  fl>ing  in  rare  confusion. 

The  two  boys,  who  could  scarce  stand  for  laughing, 
ran  to  the  gates  of  the  lort  to  prevent  the  chargers 
getting  free,  and  in  a  short  time  they  were  again  secured, 
although  evidently  much  elated  in  spirit. 

A  few  minutes  after  this,  Mr  Grant  issued  from  the 
principal  house,  leaning  on  Mr  Kennedy's  arm,  and  fol- 
lowed by  the  senior  clerk,  Peter  Mactavish,  and  one  or 
two  friends  who  had  come  to  take  part  in  the  wolf-hunt. 
They  were  all  ai'med  with  double  or  single  barrelled 
guna  or  pistols,  according  to  their  several  fancies.  The 
two  elderly  gentlemen  alone  entered  upon  the  scene 
without  any  more  deadly  "weapons  than  their  heavy 
riding  whips.  Young  Harry  Somerville,  who  had  been 
strongly  advised  not  to  take  a  gun  lest  he  should  shoot 
himself,  or  his  horse  or  his  comi)anions,  was  content  to 
take  the  field  with  a  small  pocket-pistol,  which  he 
crammed  to  the  muzzle  with  a  compound  of  ball  and 
swan-shot. 

"  It  won't  do,"  said  Mr  Grant,  in  an  earnest  voice,  to 


rwOM  TIIK  PAR  NrtRTTI. 


SO 


his  friend,  as  tliey  walked  towards  tli«  hoi-aes — **  it  won't 
d(»  to  cliook  him  too  abruptly,  my  dear  sir." 

It  was  evid(mt  that  they  were  recurring  to  the  aulyect 
of  conversation  of  the  previous  day,  and  it  wsw  also  evi- 
dent that  the  father's  wrath  was  in  that  very  uncertain 
state  when  a  word  or  a  look  can  throw  it  into  violent 
Hjiitation. 

"  Just  permit  me,"  continued  Mr  Grant,  "  to  get 
him  sent  to  the  Saskatchewan  or  Athabasca  for  a  couple 
r)f  year's.  By  that  time  he'll  have  had  enough  of  a 
rough  life,  and  be  only  too  glad  to  get  a  bei-th  at  head- 
quartei-s.  If  you  thwart  him  now,  I  feel  convinced  that 
he'll  break  through  all  restraint." 

"  Humph  ! "  ejaculated  Mr  Kennedy,  with  a  frown. 
"  Come  here,  Chai'ley,"  he  said,  as  the  boy  approached 
with  a  disappointed  look,  to  tell  of  his  failure  in  getting 
a  horse  ;  *'  I've  been  talking  with  Mr  Grant  again  about 
this  business,  and  he  says  he  can  eaaily  get  you  into 
the  counting-room  here  for  a  year ;  so  you'll  make 
arrangements " 

The  old  gentleman  paused  :  he  was  going  to  have  fol- 
lowed his  wonted  course,  by  commanding  instantaneous 
obedience ;  but  as  his  eye  fell  upon  the  honest,  open, 
tliough  disappointed  face  of  his  son,  a  gush  of  tenderness 
filled  his  heart.  Laying  his  hand  upon  Charley's  head, 
he  said,  in  a  kind  but  abrupt  tone,  "  There  now,  Charley, 
lay  boy,  make  up  your  mind  to  give  in  with  a  good 
grace.  It'll  only  be  hard  work  for  a  year  or  tw^o,  and 
tlieu  plain  sailing  after  that,  Charley  ! " 

Charley's  clear  blue  eyes  filled  with  tears  as  the  &  ccents 
of  kindness  fell  upon  his  ear. 

It  is  strange  that  men  should  frequently  he  so  blind  to 


40 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


the  potent  influence  of  kindness.  Independently  of  the 
Divine  authority,  which  assures  us  that  "  a  soft  answer 
tumeth  away  wrath,"  and  that  "  love  is  the  fulfilling  of 
the  law,"  who  has  not,  in  the  course  of  his  experience, 
felt  the  overwhelming  power  of  a  truly  affectionate  word  ? 
— not  a  word  which  possesses  merely  an  affectionate  sig- 
nification, but  a  word  spoken  with  a  gush  of  tenderness, 
where  love  rolls  in  the  tone,  and  beams  in  the  eye,  and 
revels  in  every  wrinkle  of  the  face  !  And  how  much 
more  powerfully  does  such  a  word,  or  look,  or  tone  strike 
home  to  the  heart,  if  uttered  by  one  whose  lips  are  not  much 
accustomed  to  the  formation  of  honeyed  words  or  sweet 
sentences !  Had  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  known  more  of 
this  power,  and  put  it  more  frequently  to  the  proof,  we 
venture  to  affirm  that  Mr  Kennedy,  junior,  would  have 
allowed  his  "  Jtint  to  be  fixed "  (as  his  father  pithily  ex- 
pressed it)  long  ago. 

Ere  Charley  could  reply  to  the  question,  Mr  Grant's 
voice,  pitched  in  an  elevated  key,  interrupted  them. 

"  Eh !  what  ? "  said  that  gentleman  to  Tom  Whyte. 
"  No  horse  for  Chariey  !     How's  that  1 " 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Tom. 

"  Where's  th«^  brown  pony  ? "  said  Mr  Grant,  abruptly. 

"  Cut  'is  fetlock,  sir,"  said  Tom,  slowly. 

"  And  the  new  horse  % " 

"  'Tant  'alf  broke  yet,  sir." 

"  Ah  !  that's  bad.  It  wouldn't  do  to  take  an  un- 
broken charger,  Charley,  for,  although  you  are  a  pretty 
good  rider,  you  couldn't  manage  him,  I  fear.    Let  me  see." 

"  Please,  sir,"  said  the  groom,  touching  his  hat,  "  I've 
borrowed  the  miller's  pony  for  'im,  and  'e's  sure  to  bn 
'ere  in  *alf  a  hour  at  farthest." 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


41 


"  Oh  !  that'll  do,"  said  Mr  Grant,  "  you  can  so6n  ovei- 
tiike  us.  We  shall  ride  slowly  out,  siraiglit  into  tlio 
prairie,  and  Harry  will  remain  behind  to  keep  yoii 
company." 

So  saying,  Mr  Grant  mounted  his  hoi*se  and  rode 
out  at  the  back  gate,  followed  by  the  whole  cavalcade. 

"  Now,  this  is  too  bad  ! "  said  Charley,  looking  with 
a  veiy  perplexed  air  at  his  companion.  "  What's  to  b<j 
done  1 " 

Harry  evidently  did  not  know  what  was  to  be  done, 
aud  made  no  difficulty  of  saying  so  in  a  very  sympa- 
thising tone.  Moreover  he  begged  Charley  very  earnestly 
to  take  his  pony,  but  this  the  other  v*'ould  not  hear  of ; 
HO  they  came  to  the  conclusion  that  there  was  nothing 
for  it  but  to  wait  as  patiently  as  possible  for  the  arrival 
of  the  expected  horse.  In  the  meantime,  Harry  pro- 
posed a  saunter  in  the  field  adjoining  the  fort.  Chai-ley 
sissented,  and  the  two  friends  walked  away,  leading  the 
gray  pony  along  with  them. 

To  the  right  of  Fort  Garry  was  a  small  enclosure,  at  tli«; 
extreme  end  of  which  commences  a  growth  of  willowH 
and  underwood,  which  gradually  increases  in  size  till  n. 
becomes  a  pretty  thick  belt  of  woodland,  skirting  up  tlu,' 
river  for  many  miles.  Here  stood  the  stable  belonging 
to  the  establishment ;  and,  as  the  boys  passed  it,  Charley 
suddenly  conceived  a  strong  desire  to  see  the  renowned 
"  noo  'oss,"  wliich  Tom  Whyte  had  said  was  only  "  'alf 
broke ; "  so  he  tui'ued  the  key,  opened  the  door,  and 
went  in. 

There  was  nothing  ver//  peculiar  about  this  hoi*se,  ex- 
cepting that  his  legs  seemed  rather  long  for  his  body,  and, 
upon  a  Closer  examination,  there  was  a  noticeable  breadth 

4 


42 


SI.OWFLAKES  A  XT)  SUNBKAMS 


of  nostril  and  a  latent  tiro  in  his  eye,  indicating  a  goo<\ 
deal  of  spirit,  which,  like  Charley's  own,  required  taming. 

"  Oh,'*  said  Charley,  *'  what  a  3j>lendid  fellow  !  I  say, 
ITarry,  I'll  go  out  with  him." 

"  Yon'd  better  not." 

"  Why  not  r 

"  Why  ?  Just  because  if  you  do,  Mr  Grant  will  l>e 
down  ui)<)n  you,  and  your  father  won't  be  very  well 
pleased." 

"  Nonsense,"  cried  Charley.  "  Fatlier  didn't  say  1 
wasn't  to  take  him.  I  don't  think  he'd  care  mncli. 
He's  not  afraid  of  my  breaking  my  neck.  And,  then, 
i\lr  Gi-ant  seemed  to  be  only  afraid  of  my  being  run  off 
with — not  of  his  horse  being  hurt.  Here  goes  for  it!" 
Ill  another  moment,  Charley  had  him  saddled  and  bridled, 
and  led  him  out  into  the  yard. 

"  Why,  I  declare,  he's  quite  quiet ;  just  like  a  lamb," 
jsiiid  Hany,  in  surpi-ise. 

"  So  he  is,"  replied  Chai'ley.  "  He's  a  capital  charger  ; 
and  even  if  he  does  bolt,  he  can't  nm  five  hundred  miles 
}(t  a  stretch.  Tf  I  turn  his  head  to  the  prairies,  the 
]v)cky  Mountains  are  the  first  things  that  will  bring  him 
up.  So  let  him  run  if  he  likes — I  don't  care  a  fig."  And 
springing  lightly  into  the  saddle,  he  cantered  out  of  the 
yard,  followed  by  his  friend. 

The  young  horse  was  a  well-foiined,  showy  animal, 
with  a  good  deal  of  bone — pei'haps  too  much  for  elegance. 
He  was  of  a  beautiful  dark  brown,  and  carried  a  high 
hoad  and  tail,  with  a  higli-stepping  gait,  that  gave  him  a 
iiohle  appearance.  As  Charley  cantei'ed  along  at  a  steady 
pacp,  he  could  discover  no  symptoms  of  the  refractory 
spirit  vvhich  had  been  a-scribed  to  liinL 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


43 


"  Let  us  strike  out  stroiglit  for  the  horizon  now,"  said 
Harry,  after  they  had  galloped  half-a-niile  or  so  along  the 
l»eaten  track.  "  See,  here  are  the  tracks  of  our  friends." 
Turning  sharp  round  as  he  spoke,  he  leaped  his  pony 
over  the  heap  that  lined  the  road,  and  galloped  away 
til  rough  the  soft  snow. 

At  this  point  the  young  horse  began  to  shew  his  evil 
spirit.  Instead  of  following  the  other,  he  suddenly 
halted  and  began  to  back. 

"  Hallo,  Harry  ! "  exclaimed  Charley  ;  "  hold  on  a  bit. 
Here's  this  monster  begun  his  tricks." 

*'  Hit  him  a  crack  with  the  whip,"  shouted  Hariy. 

Charley  ac^jd  upon  the  advice,  which  had  the  effect  of 
making  the  h-  -i  shake  his  head  with  a  sharp  snort,  and 
back  more  \j;  .    ^'  ily  than  ever. 

"  There,  my  fine  fellow,  quiet  now,"  said  Charley,  in  a 
soothing  tone,  patting  the  horse's  neck.  "  It's  a  comfort 
to  know  you  can't  go  far  in  that  direction,  anyhow  !"  he 
added,  as  he  glanced  over  his  shouldei*,  and  saw  an  im- 
mense drift  behind. 

He  was  right.  In  a  few  n  inutes  the  horse  backed  into 
the  snow-drift.  Finding  his  hind-quarters  imprisoned  l>y 
a  power  that  was  too  much  even  for  his  obstinacy  to  over- 
come, he  gave  another  snort  and  a  heavy  plunge,  which 
almost  unseated  his  young  rider. 

"  Hold  on  fast,"  cried  Harry,  who  had  now  come  up. 

*'  No  fear,"  cried  Charley,  as  he  clenched  his  teeth  and 
gathered  the  reins  more  firmly.  "  Now  for  it,  you  young 
villain  !"  and,  raising  his  whip,  he  brought  it  down  with 
a  heavy  slash  on  the  horse's  fiank. 

Had  the  snow-drift  been  a  cannt)n,  and  the  hoi-se  a 
bombshell,  he  could  scarcely  haNe  spi'ung  from  it  witli 


I 


'■T?*' 


41 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNDEAM? 


I^catci-  v(^l()city.  One  bound  landed  him  on  the  road  ; 
nnotlu^r  cleared  it ;  and,  in  a  second  more,  he  stretcher! 
ont  at  full  speed — his  ears  flat  on  his  neck,  main  and  tail 
flyiui;'  in  the  wind,  and  the  bit  tight  between  hLs  teeth. 

"Well  done,"  cried  Hany,  as  he  passed;  "you're  off 
now,  old  fellow — good-bye." 

"  Hurrah  !"  shouted  Charley,  in  reply,  leaving  his  cap 
ill  the  snow  as  a  parting  souvenir;  while,  seeing  that  it 
w{i.s  useless  to  endeavour  to  cluick  his  steed,  he  became 
quite  wikl  with  excitement ;  gave  him  the  rein  ;  flourished 
liis  whi]) ;  and  flew  over  the  white  plains,  casting  up  the 
snow  in  clouds  bc^hind  him  like  a  Inuricane  ! 

While  this  little  escapade  was  being  enacted  by  the 
boys,  the  hunters  were  riding  leisurely  out  upon  the 
snowy  sea  in  search  of  a  wolf. 

Wvjrds  cannot  convey  to  you,  dear  reader,  an  adequate 
conception  of  the  peculiar  fascination,  the  exhilarating 
splendour  of  the  scene  by  which  our  himters  were  sur- 
rounded. Its  beauty  lay  not  in  variety  of  feature  in  the 
landscaj)e,  for  there  was  none.  One  7ast  sheet  of  white 
alone  met  the  view,  bounded  all  round  bv  the  blue  circle 
of  the  sky,  and  broken,  in  one  or  two  places,  by  a  patch 
or  two  of  willows,  which,  rising  on  the  p'ain  appeared 
like  little  islands  in  a  frozen  sea.  It  was  the  glittering 
sparkle  of  the  snow  in  the  bright  sunshine  ;  the  dreamy 
haziness  of  the  atmosphere,  mingling  earth  and  sky  as  in 
a.  halo  of  gold  ;  the  first  taste — the  first  smell  of  spring 
after  a  long  winter,  bursting  suddenly  upon  the  senses, 
lilie  the  unexpected  visit  of  a  long  absent,  much  loved, 
ami  almost  forgotten  friend ;  the  soft,  warm  feeling  of 
the  south  wind,  bearing  on  its  wings  the  balmy  influences 
of  sutniy  climes,   and  recalling  vividly  the   scenes,  the 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


ifl 


pleasures,  the  bustling  occupations  of  summer.  It  was 
this  that  caused  the  hunters'  hearts  to  leap  within  them 
as  they  rode  along — that  induced  old  Mr  Kennedy  to 
forget  his  years,  and  shovit  as  he  had  been  wont  to  do  in 
days  gone  by,  when  he  used  to  follow  the  track  of  the  elk, 
or  hunt  the  wild  bufialo ;  and  it  was  this  that  made  the 
otherwise  monotonous  prairies,  on  this  particular  day, 
so  charming. 

The  party  had  wandered  about  "vvathout  discovering 
anything  that  bore  the  smallest  resemblance  to  a  wolf, 
for  upwards  of  an  hour.  Fort  Gany  had  fallen  astern 
(to  use  a  nautical  phrase)  until  it  had  become  a  mere 
speck  on  the  horizon,  and  vanished  altogether.  Peter 
Mactavish  had  twice  given  a  false  alarm,  in  the  eagerness 
of  his  spirit,  and  had  three  times  plunged  his  horse  up  to 
the  girths  in  a  snow-drift.  The  senior  clerk  was  waxing 
impatient,  and  the  horees  restive,  when  a  sudden  "hallo!" 
from  Mr  Grant  brought  the  whole  cavalcade  to  a  stand. 

The  object  which  drew  his  attention,  and  to  which  he 
directed  the  anxious  eyes  of  his  friends,  was  a  small 
speck,  rather  triangular  in  form,  which  overtopped  a 
little  willow-bush  not  more  than  five  or  six  hundred 
yards  distant. 

"  There  he  is  !"  exclaimed  Mr  Grant.  "  That's  a  tact," 
cried  Mr  Kennedy ,  and  both  gentlemen,  instantaneously 
giving  a  shout,  bounded  towards  the  object ;  not,  how- 
ever, befoi'e  the  senior  clerk,  who  was  mounted  on  a  fleet 
and  strong  hoi'He,  had  taken  the  lead  by  six  yards.  A. 
moment  afterwards  the  speck  rose  up  and  discovered 
itself  to  be  a  veritable  wolf.  Moreover,  he  condescended 
to  shew  his  teeth,  and,  then,  conceiving  it  probable  that 
his  enemies  were  too  numerous  for  him,  he  turned  sud- 


I 


46 


SMOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


<lenly  round  and  fled  away.  For  ten  minutes  or  so  the 
diuse  was  kept  Tip  at  full  speed,  and  as  the  snow  happened 
to  be  shallow  at  the  starting  point,  the  wolf  kept  Avell 
ahead  of  its  pursuere — indeed,  distanced  them  a  little. 
But  soon  the  snow  became  deeper,  and  the  wolf  plungi  d 
heavily,  and  the  liorses  gained  considerably.  Although, 
to  the  eye,  the  prairies  seemed  to  be  a  uniform  level, 
there  were  numerous  slight  undulations,  in  which  drifts 
of  some  depth  had  collected.  Into  one  of  these  the  wolf 
now  plunged  and  laboured  slowly  through  it.  But  so 
deep  was  the  snow  that  the  hoi-ses  almost  stuck  fast.  A 
few  minutes,  however,  brought  them  out,  and  Mr  Grant 
and  Mr  Kennedy,  who  had  kept  close  to  each  othei 
during  the  run,  j)tilled  up  for  a  moment  on  the  summit 
of  a  ridge  to  breathe  their  panting  steeds. 

"What  can  that  be?"  exclaimed  the  former,  pointing 
with  his  whip  to  a  distant  object  which  was  moving 
rapidly  over  the  plain. 

"  Eh  !  what !  where  ?"  said  Mr  Kennedy,  shading  his 
eyes  with  his  hand,  and  peering  in  the  direction  indicated. 
"  Why,  that's  another  wolf,  isn't  it  1  No,  it  runs  too  fast 
for  that." 

"  Strange,"  said  his  friend,  "what  can  it  be  ?" 

"  If  I  hadn't  seen  every  beast  in  the  coimtry,"  remarked 
Mr  Kennedy,  "  and  didn't  know  that  there  are  no  such 
animals  north  of  the  e(|uator,  I  should  say  it  was  a  mad 
dromedary  moimted  by  a  ling-tailed  roarer." 

"  It  can't  be,  surely  ! — not  possible  !"  exclaimed  Mr 
Giant.     "  It's  not  Charley  on  the  new  horse  !" 

Mr  Grant  said  this  with  an  air  of  vexation  that  an- 
noyed his  friend  a  little.  He  would  not  have  much 
minded  Charley's  taking  a  horse  without  leave,  no  matter 


FIIOM  TIIK  FAR  NOHTII 


47 


how  wild  it  might  be  ;  but  he  did  not  at  ull  lelisli  the 
idea  of  making  an  apology  for  his  son's  misconduct,  and, 
for  the  moment,  did  not  exactly  know  what  to  say.  As 
usual  in  such  a  dilemma,  the  old  man  took  refuge  in  a 
towering  passion,  gave  his  steed  a  sharp  cut  with  the 
whip,  and  galloped  forward  to  meet  the  d'  linquent. 

We  are  not  acquainted  with  the  geiu  lal  apjiearance  of 
a  "ring-tailed  roarer;"  in  fact,  we  have  grave  doubts 
as  to  whether  such  an  animal  exists  at  all  ;  but  if  it  does, 
and  is  particularly  wild,  dishevelled,  and  fierce  in  deport- 
ment, there  is  no  doubt  whatever,  that,  when  Mr  Ken- 
nedy ap})lied  the  name  to  hia  hopeful  son,  the  a]  ►plication 
was  singularly  powerful  and  appixjpiiate. 

Charley  had  had  a  long  run  since  we  last  saw  him. 
After  describing  a  wide  curve,  in  which  his  charger  dis- 
played a  surj)rising  aptitude  for  picking  out  the  ground 
that  was  least  covered  with  snow,  he  headed  straight  for 
the  fort  again  at  the  same  pace  at  which  he  had  started. 
At  first,  Charley  tried  every  possible  method  to  check 
him,  but  in  vain  ;  so  he  gave  it  up,  resolving  to  enjoy  the; 
nice,  since  he  could  not  prevent  it.  The  yoxmg  horse 
seemed  to  be  made  of  lightning,  with  bones  and  muscles 
of  brass,  for  he  bounded  untiringly  forward  for  miles, 
tossing  his  head  and  snorting  in  his  wild  career.  But 
Charley  was  a  good  horseman,  and  di<l  not  mind  that 
much,  being  quite  satisfied  that  the  horse  \vas  a  horse 
and  not  a  spii'it,  and  that,  therefore,  he  covild  not  run  for 
ever.  At  last  he  ap])roached  the  jjarty,  in  search  of 
which  he  had  originally  set  out.  His  eyes  dilated  and 
his  colour  heightened  as  he  beheld  the  wolf  running  di- 
rectly towards  him.  Fumbling  hastily  for  the  pistol 
which  he  liad  bori'owed  from  his  friend  Harrv,  he  drew 


i3*- 


♦8 


SNOVVfLAKEIs  AND  SUNBEAMS 


it  from  liis  pocket,  and  }»rq)arocl  to  give  tlie  animal  a  shot 
in  passing.  Just  at  that  moment  the  wolf  caught  sight 
of  this  new  enemy  in  advance,  and  diverged  suddenly  to 
t,\\(i  loft,  pluiiging  into  a  drift  in  his  confusion  ;  and  so 
enabling  the  senior  clerk  to  cveitake  him,  and  send  an 
ounce  of  heavy  sliot  into  his  side,  which  turned  him  over 
quite  dead.  The  shot,  however,  had  a  double  effect.  At 
that  instant  Charley  swept  past,  and  his  mettlesome  steed 
swerved  as  it  heard  the  loud  report  of  the  gun,  thereby 
almost  unhorsing  his  rider,  and  causing  him  unintention- 
ally to  discharge  the  conglomerate  of  bullets  and  swan- 
shot  into  the  Hank  of  Feter  Mactavish's  hoi-se — fortunately 
at  a  distance  which  rendered  the  shot  equivalent  to  a 
dozen  very  sharp  and  j)articularly  stinging  blows.  On 
receiving  this  unexpected  salute,  the  astonished  charger 
reared  eonvidsively  and  fell  back  upon  his  rider,  who  whs 
thereby  buried  deep  in  the  snow,  not  a  vestige  of  him 
being  left,  no  more  than  if  he  had  never  existed  at  all. 
Indeed,  for  a  moment  it  seemed  to  be  doixbtful  whether 
poor  Peter  did  exist  or  not,  until  a  sudden  upheaving  of 
the  snow  took  place,  and  his  dishevelled  head  appeared, 
with  the  eyes  and  mouth  wide  open,  bearing  on  them  an 
expression  of  mingled  hoiTor  and  amazement.  Meau- 
w^hile,  the  second  shot  acted  like  a  spur  on  the  young 
horse,  which  flew  past  Mr  Kennedy  like  a  whirlwind. 

"  Stop,  you  young  scoundrel  I"  he  shouted,  shaking  hi.s 
fist  at  Charley  as  he  passed. 

Charley  was  past  stopping,  either  by  inclination  or 
ability.  This  sudden  and  unexpected  accumulation  of 
disasters  was  too  much  for  him.  As  he  passed  his  sire, 
with  his  brown  curls  streaming  straight  out  beliind,  and  liLs 
eyes  flashing  with  excitement,  his  tt^eth  clenched,  and  his 


/ 


I 


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y5*' 


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■»•<:?;:  ■^'.-■•3r*-' 


■t-^v.!, 


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"SjA 


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18 


«.v'm:> 


;  UK  A  JUii 


VP'. 


,.i  f.  ,  .t«t    .'*.  %li..»i  !•  1     ^v    ,,    .     \jN*   HUfht 

•:''.if;(tJl.y  uj  baIvu-.-v,    a!  .li.'UH-ffi-il   !*n  *  .  to 

•    j       ,..«t»<f  iuto  a  vlrlifc  .  ■■'<      •    ■>     >  J'l  »> 

«bc  mjuior  clerk  to  ovan^ik^  Itira,  »o*i  iscad  rtu 

,  ♦H-T,-*  ^hot  into  Lis  »ide,  whioh  tunwMi  him  over 

.,M  .h'>^.  how»'ver,]iad  a.  double  eHwt.     Ai 

v"?pt  piiPt,  >vnd  his  Atcttlwkyn't.^  *^t*to<;l 

Ur  luud  re])ort  of  tie  iOu\  .uy 

i '.  1  ,     -idor,  Hiid  ouusiug  liin>  iiDiutcntion- 

.,     the  congioiiif  mtf:  of  bviiU^ts  and  Hw»n- 

.  tt.c  Hiaik  ot'r»*terM!aotavIsU*&  hors^;  --foiimiaioly 

.  t'lMtiince  which  reiidcred  the  shot  equivulcut  to  a 

4o/eu  very  shurp  and  f»articnliH"ly  .■ti/<i';l»tf   l^lows.     On 

€-,5eiviTic?.thi«  uu«l)f.HK^tti<l  wthitf.  tli**  .«.j{U»iunhed  <!h*trg«r 

ft^vrl  <,!*v»>vnfc*  '?.  ^.'  'u>d  f*;ll  b»u.k  U|j»<»j  his  rwioi-.iAvho.wns 

■  :  iho   Ml  :  .'i,  of  hiilJ 

•     ■      .1, .     ,  . .;    .    .  .;!  whether 

.•  .uMi  uj>t>«ibvii»g  of 
liirt  f'bA>w  took  ijIjmjw.  HUiJ  hk  d>>ilw»v«}lit?d  hcsid  H.p|>t^4»(^l, 
Aitb  the  t!v  ,1,11.  wide  oj'en,  btaviiig  on  thvm  au 

•^xi/ieshion  ttf  tiuugUd  horror  and  amazomic^Bt,  Mean- 
wh'ihs  tlic  «cctmd  shot  acted  likt;  a  wpxir  ou  tlie  young 
hf»ri*e,  whicli  flow  pa^t  Mr  K.^nE<Hiy  like  a  w/uriwhid. 

"  i^top,  you  young  scoundrel  1"  he  sL.>ut<^l,  shirking  hi,s 
ftst  at  ('hadoy  n?  he  pattsed. 

iniavley   wiw  jra^st  stopping,   miha    '■ 
fthiUi        Thi..s  sudden   .aud 
iriaa.sW/>i  was  too  0(iV'>  ■ 
"*iih  hi;,  bixjwii  < 

with  '  * . 


f.%m  ^itt-s 


1'  n   V  ■ 

.jKtutatiou  of 

.ssMxl  his  aire, 

(i,  and  hL' 

"i^  .Old  hi. J 


"4 


5 


m 
i*," 


CHARLEY  TAKcS  A  BOLD  LEAP  ON  THE  "nOO  'OftS." 

V      FftgcSU, 


'■ '  k 


horso 

anitiiii 

iiidigi 


FIIOM  I'llfi  FAR  NOUTU. 


49 


horso  tearing  along  more  like  an  incarnate  fiend  tlian  an 
animal — a  spirit  of  combined  recklessness,  consternation, 
indignation,  and  glee,  took  possession  of  him.  He  waved 
his  whip  wildly  over  his  head,  brought  it  down  with  a 
stinging  cut  on  the  horse's  neck,  and  uttered  a  shout  of 
defiance  that  threw  completely  into  the  shade  the  loudest 
war-whoop  that  was  ever  uttered  by  the  brazen  lung-  of 
the  wildest  savage  between  Hudson's  Bay  and  Oregon. 
Seeing  and  hearing  this,  old  Mr  Kennedy  wheeled  about 
and  dashed  off  in  pursuit  with  much  greater  energy  than 
he  had  displayed  in  chase  of  the  wolf. 

The  race  bade  fair  to  be  a  long  one,  for  the  young  hor?  u 
was  strong  in  wind  and  limb  ;  and  the  gray  mare,  tlv  'Ugli 
decidedly  not  "  the  better  horse,"  was  much  fresher  than 
the  other. 

The  hunters,  who  were  now  joined  by  Harry  Sorner- 
viile,  did  not  feel  it  incumbent  on  them  to  follow  this  new 
eliase  ;  so  they  contented  themselves  with  watching  their 
flight  towards  the  fort,  while  they  followed  at  a  more  lei- 
surely pace. 

Meanwhile,  Charley  rapidly  neared  lort  Garry;  and 
now  began  to  wonder  whether  the  stable  door  was  open  ; 
and,  if  so,  whether  it  were  better  for  him  to  take  his 
cjhance  of  getting  his  neck  broken,  or  to  throw  himself 
into  the  next  snow  drift  that  presented  itself. 

He  had  not  to  remain  long  in  suspense.  Tbo  %'.oodcn 
fence  that  enclosed  the  stable  yard  lay  befo'.e  liim.  It 
was  between  four  and  five  feet  high,  with  a  beaten  track 
running  along  the  outr.ide,  and  a  deep  snow-drift  on  the 
other.  Charley  felt  that  the  young  horse  had  made  up 
his  mind  to  leap  this.  As  he  did  not,  at  the  moment,  see 
that  there  was  anything  better  to  be  done,  he  prepared  for 


m 


ni 


50 


SNOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


it.  As  tlie  '"')rse  bent  on  liis  haunches  to  spring,  he  gave 
him  a  smart  cat  with  the  whip,  Avent  over  like  a  rocket, 
and  plunged  up  to  the  neck  in  the  snow-drift,  which 
Urouglit  his  career  to  an  abrupt  conclusion.  The  sudden 
.stoppage  of  the  hoi-se  was  one  thing,  but  the  arresting  oi 
Maater  Charley  was  anotJier,  and  quite  a  ditferent  tiling. 
The  instant  his  charger  handed,  he  left  the  saddle  like  a 
harlequin,  described  an  extensive  curve  in  the  air,  and 
fell  head  foremost  into  the  drift,  above  which  his  boots 
and  three  inches  of  his  legs  alone  remained  to  tell  the 
tale. 

On  witnessing  this  climax,  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  pulled 
up,  dismounted,  and  ran — with  an  expression  of  some 
anxiety  on  his  countenance — to  the  helji  of  his  son  ; 
while  Tom  Whyte  came  out  of  the  stable  just  in  time  to 
receive  the  "  noo  'oss"  as  he  floundered  out  of  the  snow. 

"  I  believe,"  said  the  groom,  as  he  surveyed  the  trem- 
bling charger,  '*  that  your  son  has  broke  the  noo  'oss,  sir, 
better  nor  I  could  'ave  done  myself" 

"  I  believe  that  my  son  has  broken  his  neck,"  said  Mr 
Kennedy,  wrathfully.  "  Come  here  and  help  me  to  dig 
liim  out." 

In  a  few  minutes  Charley  was  dug  out,  in  a  state  of  in- 
sensibility, and  carried  up  to  the  fort,  where  he  was  laid 
on  a  bed,  antl  restoratives  actively  applied  for  his  recovery. 


FKOM  TlIK  FAR  NOKTIl. 


51 


CHAPTER  V. 

Petor  Mactuvish  becomes  an  amateur  doctor;  Charley  promiilgates  his  vipws  of 
things  in  general  to  Kate ;  and  Kate  waxes  sagacious. 

Shortly  after  the  catastrophe  just  related,  Charley  opened 
his  eyes  to  consciousness,  and  aroused  himself  out  of  a 
prolonged  fainting  fit,  under  the  combined  influence  of  a 
strong  constitution,  and  the  medical  treatment  of  his 
friends. 

Mediciil  treatment  in  the  wilds  of  North  America,  hy 
the  way,  is  very  original  in  its  character,  and  is  founded 
r>n  principles  so  vague,  that  no  one  has  ever  been  found 
capable  of  stating  them  clearly.  Owing  to  the  stubborn 
fact,  that  there  are  no  doctors  in  the  country,  men  have 
been  thrown  upon  their  own  resources  ;  and,  as  a  natural 
consequence,  evert/  man  is  a  doctor.  True,  there  ore  two, 
it  may  be  three,  real  doctors  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany's employment ;  but,  as  one  of  these  is  resident  on 
the  shores  of  Hudson's  Bay,  another  in  Oregon,  and  a 
third  in  Red  River  Seifclement,  tl^yare  not  considered 
available  for  every  case  of  emergency  that  may  chance  to 
occur  in  the  hundreds  of  little  outposts,  scattered  far  and 
wide  over  the  whole  continent  of  North  America,  with 
miles  and  miles  of  primeval  wilderness  between  each. 
We  do  not  think,  therefore,  that  when  we  say  there  are 
110  doctors  in  the  country,  we  use  a  culpable  amount  of 
exaggeration. 


ijiiiiww    I'" 


*        t'      V 


1  >-. 


52 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


f 


If  a  man  gets  ill,  he  goes  on  till  lie  gets  better  ;  and,  if 
lie  doesn't  get  better,  lie  dies.  To  avert  such  an  unde- 
sirable consummation,  desperate  and  random  efibrts  are 
made  in  an  amateur  way.  The  old  proverb  that  "ex- 
tremes meet,"  is  verified.  And,  in  a  land  where  no 
doctors  are  to  be  had  for  love  or  money,  doctors  meet  you 
at  every  turn,  ready  to  practise  on  everything,  with  any- 
thing, and  all  for  nothing,  on  the  shortest  possible  notice. 
As  may  be  supposed,  the  practice  is  novel,  and,  not  nn- 
frequently,  extremely  wild.  Tooth-drawing  is  considered 
child's  play  —  mere  blacksmith's  work ;  bleeding  is  a 
general  remedy  for  everything,  when  all  else  fails ;  castor- 
oil,  Epsom  salts,  and  emetics  are  the  three  keynotes,  the 
foundations,  and  the  copestones  of  the  system. 

In  lied  River  there  is  only  one  genuine  doctor  j  and,  as 
the  settlement  is  fully  sixty  miles  long,  he  has  enough  to 
do,  and  cannot  always  be  found  when  wanted,  so  that 
Charley  had  to  rest  content  with  amateur  treatment  in 
the  mean  time.     Peter  Mactavish  was  the  first  to  try  his 
powers.     He  was  aware  that  laudanum  had  the  effect  of 
producing  sleep,  and,  seeing  that  Charley  looked  some- 
what sleepy  after  recovering  consciousness,  he  thought  it 
advisable  to  help  out  that  propensity  to  slumber,  and  went 
to  the  medicine-chest,  whence  he  extracted  a  small  pliial 
of  tincture  of  rhubarb,  the  half  of  which  he  emptied  into 
a  wine-ghiss,  vmder  the  impression  that  it  was  laudanum, 
and  poured  down  Charley's  throat  !     The  poor  boy  swal- 
lowed a  little,  and  sputtered  the  remainder  over  the  bed- 
clothes.    It  may  be  remarked  here  that  Mactavish  was  a 
wild,  happy,  half-mad  sort  of  fellow — wonderfully  erudite 
in  regard  to  some  things,   and  profoundly  ignorant  in 
regard  to  others. 


WilS 

satisll 
frienj 
a  litj 
gentll 
Charl 


<( 


Medicine,  it  need  scarcely  be  added, 


'# 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


.03 


was  not  his  forte.  Having  accomplished  this  i(.<\'i  to  liis 
satisfaction,  lie  sat  down  to  watch  by  the  bedsile  of  his 
friend.  Peter  had  taken  this  opportunity  to  indulge  in 
a  little  private  practice,  jnst  after  several  of  the  other 
gentlemen  had  left  the  office  under  the  impression  that 
Charley  had  better  remain  quiet  for  a  short  time. 

"  Well,  Peter,"  whispered  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  putting 
his  head  in  at  the  door  (it  was  Harry's  room  in  which 
Charley  lay),  "  how  is  he  now  ? " 

"  Oh !  doing  capitally,"  replied  Peter,  in  a  hoarse 
whisper,  at  the  same  time  rising  and  entering  the  office, 
while  he  gently  closed  the  door  behind  him.  "  T  gave 
him  a  small  dose  of  physic,  which  I  think  has  done  him 
good.     He's  sleeping  like  a  top  now." 

Mr  Kennedy  frowned  slightly,  and  made  one  or  two 
remarks  in  reference  to  physic,  which  were  not  calciilatcd 
to  gratify  the  ears  of  a  physician. 

"  What  did  you  give  him  ? "  he  inquired,  abruptly. 

"  Only  a  little  laudanum." 

"  Only,  indeed !  it's  all  trash  together,  and  that's  the 
worst  kind  of  trash  you  could  have  given  him.  Humi)h  !" 
and  the  old  gentleman  jerked  his  shoulders  testily. 

"  How  much  did  you  give  him  ?"  said  the  senior  clerk, 
who  had  entered  the  apai'tment  with  Harry  a  few  minutes 
before. 

"Not  quite  a  wineglassful,"  rej)lied  Peter,  somewhat 
subdued. 

"  A  what !"  cried  the  father,  starting  from  his  chair  as 
if  he  had  received  an  electric  shock,  and  rushing  into  the 
adjoining  room,  up  and  down  which  he  raved  in  a  state 
of  distraction,  being  utterly  ignorant  of  what  should  be 
done  under  the  circumstances. 


1 

i 


)4 


k 

if 
\ 


.-..,,  J. 


5i 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


( 


i  i' 


"  Oil  dear  ! "  gasped  Peter,  turning  [nile  as  deatli. 

Poor  Harry  Somerville  fell  rather  than  leapt  off  his 
stool,  and  dashed  into  the  bedroom,  where  old  Mr  Kennedy 
Wiis  occupied  in  alternately  heaping  unutterable  abuse  on 
the  head  of  Peter  Mactavish,  and  imploring  him  to  advise 
Nvliat  was  liest  to  be  done.  But  Peter  knew  not.  He  couhl 
only  make  one  or  two  insane  proposals  to  roll  Ci^arley 
about  the  floor,  and  see  if  that  would  do  him  any  good ; 
wliile  Harry  suggested  in  desperation  that  he  should  be 
hung  by  the  heels,  and  perhaps  it  would  run  out ! 

Meanwhile  the  senior  clerk  seized  his  hat,  with  the  in- 
tention of  going  in  search  of  Tom  Whyte,  and  rushed  out 
at  the  door ;  which  he  had  no  sooner  done,  than  he  found 
himself  tightly  embraced  in  the  arms  of  that  woi-thy,  who 
liappened  to  be  entering  at  the  moment ;  and  who,  in 
consequence  of  the  sudden  onset,  was  pinned  up  against 
the  wall  of  the  porch. 

'■'Oh,  my  buzzum  !"  exclaimed  Tom,  laying  his  hand 
on  his  breast,  "you've  a'most  bu'st  me,  sir;  w'at's  wrong, 
sir?" 

"  Go  for  the  doctor,  Tom,  quick  !  run  like  the  win<l. 
Take  the  freshest  horse ;  fly,  Tom,  Charley's  poisoned  ; 
laudanum — quick  I" 

"  'Eavens  an'  'arth  !"  ejaculated  the  groom,  wheeling 
I'ound,  and  stalking  rapidly  off  to  the  stable,  like  a  pair  of 
insane  coiiqKisses,  while  the  senior  clerk  returned  to  the 
bedroom,  where  he  found  Mr  Kennedy  still  raving  ;  Peter 
]\[actavish  still  aghast  and  deadly  pale;  and  Harry  Somer- 
ville staring  like  a  maniac  at  his  young  friend,  as  if  he 
expected  ev(;ry  moment  to  see  him  explode,  although,  to 
all  appearance,  he  was  sleeping  soundly,  and  comfortably, 
too,  notwithstanding  the  noi^e  that  was  going  on  around 


M 


FROM  THK  r.VK  NOKTTI. 


55 


hi  in.  Suddenly  Harry's  eye  rested  on  the  lal)el  of  the 
half-empty  pliial,  and  he  uttered  a  loud,  pi'olonged  cheer. 

"  It's  only  tincture  of " 

"Wild  cats  and  furies,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  turning 
sliarply  round  and  seizing  Harry  by  the  collar,  "why 
d' you  kick  up  such  a  row  1  eh  !" 

"  It's  only  tincture  of  rluibarb,"  repeated  the  boy,  dis- 
engaging himself  and  holding  up  the  phial  tnumphantly. 

"  So  it  is,  I  declare,"  exclaimed  Mr  Kennedy,  in  a  tone 
that  indicated  intense  relief  of  mind  ;  while  Peter  Mac- 
t.ivish  uttered  a  sigh  so  deep,  that  one  might  suppose 
a  burden  of  innumerable  tons'  weight  had  just  been 
lemoved  from  his  breast. 

Charley  had  been  roused  from  his  slumbers  by  this  last 
ebullition  ;  but,  on  being  told  what  had  caused  it,  he 
turned  languidly  round  on  his  pillow  and  went  to  sloej) 
again,  while  his  friends  departed  and  left  him  to  repose. 

Tom  Whyte  failed  to  find  the  doctor.  The  servant 
told  him  that  her  master  had  been  suddenly  called  to  set 
a  broken  leg  that  morning  for  a  trapper  who  lived  ten 
miles  down  the  river,  and,  on  his  return,  had  fouiid  a 
n^an  waiting  with  a  hoi-se  and  cariole,  who  carried  him 
violently  away  to  see  his  wife,  who  had  been  taken  sud- 
denly ill  at  a  house  twenty  miles  up  the  river,  and  so 
slie  didn't  expect  him  back  that  night. 

"  A  n'  where  has  'e  been  took  to  1 "  inquired  Tom. 

She  couldn't  tell — she  knew  it  was  somewhere  about 
tlie  WTiite-horse  Plains,  but  she  didn't  know  more  than 
that. 

"  I) id  'e  not  say  w'en  'e'd  be  'ome  1 " 

"  No,  he  didn't." 

"  Oh  dear  !"  said  Tom,  nibbing  his  long  nose  in  great 


i 


4 


\l 


i 


50 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


jusvplexity.  "  It's  an  'omble  cafte  o'  sudiltdi  an'  on- 
cx])(!cted  pi.son." 

She  ■NVJis  sorry  for  it,  but  coiildi)'t  help  that ;  aixl, 
tlioroupon,  Lidding  hiin  good  morning,  shut  the  door. 

Tom's  wits  had  come  to  that  condition  which  ju8t 
preced(\s  "  gitnng  it  up "  as  hopeless,  when  it  occurred  to 
liim  tliiit  lie  was  not  far  from  old  Mr  Kennedy's  resi- 
dence ;  yo  he  stepped  into  the  cariole  again  and  drove 
thither.  On  his  arrival,  he  threw  poor  Mi*s  Kennedy 
and  Kate  into  great  consternation  by  his  exceedingly 
grapliic,  and  more  than  slightly  exaggerated,  account  of 
what  had  brought  him  in  search  of  the  doctor.  At  first 
Mrs  Kennedy  resolved  to  go  up  to  Fort  Garry  im- 
mediately, but  Kate  persuaded  her  to  remain  at  home, 
by  ])ointing  ou^;  that  she  could  herself  go,  and  if  an3d;hing 
very  serious  havl  occurred  (which  she  didn't  believe),  Mr 
Kennedy  could  come  down  for  her  immediately,  while 
she  (Kate)  could  remain  to  nurse  her  brother. 

In  a  few  minutes  Kate  and  Tom  were  seated  side  by 
side  in  the  little  cariole,  driving  swiftly  up  the  frozen 
river,  and  two  houi-s  later  the  former  was  seated  by  her 
brother's  bedside,  watching  him  as  he  slept  with  a  look 
of  tender  afiection  and  solic:tiide. 

Rousing  himself  from  his  slumbers,  Charley  looked 
vacantly  round  the  room. 

"  Have  you  slept  well,  darling  ? "  inquired  Kate,  laying 
her  hand  lightly  on  his  forehead. 

*'  Slept,  eh !  O  yes,  I've  slept.  I  say,  Kate,  what  a 
precious  bump  I  came  down  on  my  head,  to  be  sure ! " 

"  Hush,  Charley  ! "  said  Kate,  perceiving  that  he  waa 
becoming  energetic.      "  Father  said  you   were  to  keeji 


qu 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


57 


quiet — and  so  do  I,"  she  added,  with  a  fro-vvn — "shut 
your  eyes,  sir,  and  go  to  sleep." 

Charley  complied  by  shutting  his  eyes,  and  opening 
his  mouth,  and  uttering  a  succession  of  deep  snores. 

"  Now,  you  bad  boy,"  said  Kate,  "  why  won't  you  try 
to  rest  ] " 

"  Because,  Kate,  dear,"  said  Charley,  opening  his  eyes 
again,  "  becaiise  I  feel  as  if  I  had  slept  a  week  at  least, 
and  not  being  one  of  the  seven  sleepers,  I  don't  think  it 
necessary  to  do  more  in  that  way  just  now.  Besides,  my 
.sweet,  but  particularly  wicked  sister,  I  wish  just  at  this 
moment  to  have  a  talk  mth  you." 

"  But  are  you  sure  it  won't  do  you  harm  to  talk  ;  do 
you  feel  quite  strong  enough  ? " 

"  Quite  j  Samson  was  a  mere  infant  compared  to  me." 

"  Oh !  don't  talk  nonsense,  Charley  dear,  and  keep 
your  hands  quiet,  and  don't  lift  the  clothes  with  your 
knees  in  that  way,  else  I'll  go  away  and  leave  you." 

"  Very  well,  my  pet,  if  you  do,  I'll  get  up  and  dress 
and  follow  you,  that's  all !  But  come,  Kate,  tell  me  first 
of  all  how  it  was  that  I  got  pitched  off  that  long-legged 
rhinoceros,  and  who  it  was  that  picked  me  up,  and  why 
wasn't  I  killed,  and  how  did  I  come  here  ;  for  my  head  is 
sadly  confused,  and  I  scarcely  recollect  anything  that  has 
happened  ;  and,  before  commencing  your  discourse,  Kate, 
please  hand  me  a  glass  of  water,  for  my  mouth  is  as  dry 
as  a  whistle." 

Kate  handed  him  a  glass  of  water,  smoothed  his  pilloAV 
brushed  the  curls  gently  off  his  forehead,  and  sat  down  on 
the  bedside. 

"  Thank  you,  Kate — now  go  on." 

5 


* 
«.«► 


•-1 


I 


I 


t-v"l 


\ 


?'■' 

-^ 


58 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


»    » 


"  Well,  you  see,"  she  began 

"  rardon  me,  clearest,"  inteiTui^ted  Charley,  "  if  yoii 
would  please  to  look  at  me  you  would  observe  that  my 
two  eyes  are  tightly  closed,  so  that  I  don't  see  at  all." 

"  Well,  then,  you  must  undei*stand " 

"  Must  I  ]     Oh  ! " 

"  That  after  that  wicked  horse  leaped  with  you  over 
the  stable  fence,  you  were  thrown  high  into  the  air,  and 
turning  completely  round,  fell  head  foremost  into  the  snow, 
and  your  poor  head  went  through  the  top  of  an  old  cask 
that  had  been  buried  there  all  winter." 

"  Dear  me,"  ejaculated  Charley,  "  did  any  one  see  me, 
Kate?" 

"Oh,  yes!"  ' 

"  Who  1 "  asked  Charley,  somewhat  anxiously ;  "  not 
Mrs  Grant,  I  hope,  for  if  she  did,  she'd  never  let  me  hear 
the  last  of  it." 

"  No,  only  our  father,  who  was  chasing  you  at  the 
time,"  replied  Kate,  with  a  merry  laugh. 

"  And  no  one  else  1 " 

•'  No — oh,  yes  !  by  the  bye,  Tom  Wliyte  was  there 
too." 

"  Oh,  he's  nobody  !     Go  on." 

"But  tell  me,  Charley,  wliy  do  you  care  about  Mrs 
Grant  seeing  you  ? " 

"  Oh  !  no  reason  at  all,  only  she's  such  an  abominable 
(piiz." 

We  must  guard  the  reader  here  against  the  supposition 
that  Mrs  Grant  was  a  quiz  of  the  ordinary  kind.  She 
was  by  no  means  a  si>rightly,  clever  woman — rather  fond 
of  a  joke  than  otherwise — as  the  term  might  lead  you  to 
."^uppose.     Her  corporeal  frame  was  very  large,  excessively 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


09 


fat,  and  remarkably  unwieldy  j  being  an  appropriate 
casket  in  which  to  enshrine  a  mind  of  tlie  heaviest  an<A 
most  sluggish  nature.  She  spoke  little,  ate  largely,  and 
slept  rauc'^;  — the  latter  recreation  being  very  frequently 
enjoyed  in  a  large  arm-chair  of  a  peculiar  kind.  It  had 
been  a  water-butt,  which  her  ingenious  husband  had  cut 
half-way  down  the  middle,  then  half-way  across,  and  in 
the  angle  thus  formed  fixed  a  bottom,  which,  together 
with  the  back,  he  padded  with  tow,  and  covered  thtis 
whole  with  a  mantle  of  glaring  bed-curtain  chintz,  whose 
pattern  alternated  in  stripes  of  sky-blue  and  china  roses, 
with  broken  fragments  of  the  rainbow  between.  Not- 
withstanding her  excessive  slowness,  however,  Mrs  Grant 
was  fond  of  taking  a  firm  hold  of  anything  or  any  cir- 
cumstance in  the  character  or  affairs  of  her  friends,  and 
twitting  them  thereupon  in  a  grave  but  pei'severing 
manner,  that  was  exceedingly  irritatvig.  No  one  could 
ever  ascertain  whether  Mrs  Grant  did  this  in  a  sly  way 
or  not,  as  her  visage  n.^ver  expressed  anything  except  un- 
alterable good-humour.  Sie  was  a  good  wife  and  an 
affectionate  mother ;  had  a  fajnily  of  ten  children,  and 
could  boast  of  never  having  had  more  than  one  quarrel 
with  her  husband.  This  disagreement  was  occasioned  by  a 
rather  awkward  mischance.  One  day,  not  long  after  lier  last 
baby  was  born,  Mrs  Grant  waddled  towards  her  tub  w^itlx 
the  intention  of  enjoying  her  accustomed  siesta.  A  few 
minutes  previously,  her  seventh  child,  which  was  just  able 
to  walk,  had  scrambled  up  into  the  seat  and  fallen  fast 
asleep  there.  As  has  been  already  said,  Mrs  Grant's  in- 
tellect was  never  very  bright,  and  at  this  particular  time 
she  was  rather  drowsy,  so  that  she  did  not  observe  the 
child,    and   on   reaching   her   chair,    turned   round   pre- 


11 


fe 


V;,' 


»     i< 


GO 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


parutoiy  to  letting  liersolf  plump  into  it.  She  always 
pluiiiped  into  her  chair.  Her  muscles  were  too  soft  to 
lower  her  gently  down  into  it.  Invariably,  on  reaching 
a  certain  point,  they  ceastid  to  act,  and  let  her  down  with 
ji  crash.  She  had  just  reached  this  point,  and  licr  baby's 
hopes  and  prospects  were  on  the  eve  of  being  cnielly 
crushed  for  ever,  when  Mr  Grant  noticed  the  impending 
calamity.  He  had  no  time  to  warn  her,  for  she  had 
already  passed  the  point  at  which  her  powei-s  of  musctilar 
endurance  terminated  ;  so,  grasping  the  chair,  he  suddenly 
withdrew  it  with  such  force  that  the  baby  rolled  off  upon 
the  floor  like  a  hedgehog,  straightened  out  flat,  and  gave 

roar,    while    its    horror-struck 


vent    to    an 


outrageous 


mother  came  to  the  ground  with  a  sound  resembling  the 
full  of  an  enorjuous  sack  of  wool.  Although  the  old  lady 
could  not  see  exactly  that  there  was  anything  very  blame- 
^^  orthy  in  her  husband's  conduct  upon  this  occasion,  yet 
her  nerves  had  received  so  severe  a  shock  that  she  refused 
to  be  comforted  for  two  entire  days. 

But  to  return  from  this  digression.  After  Charley 
had  two  or  three  times  recommended  Kate  (who  was  a 
litthi  inclined  to  be  quizzical)  to  proceed,  she  continued — 

"  Well,  then,  you  were  carried  iip  here  by  father  and 
Tom  Whyte,  and  put  to  bed ;  and  after  a  good  deal  of 
rubbing  and  rough  treatment,  you  were  got  round.  Then 
I'eter  Mactavish  nearly  poisoned  you  ;  but  fortunately  he 
was  such  a  goose,  that  he  did  not  think  of  reading  the 
label  of  the  phial,  and  so  gave  you  a  dose  of  tincture  of 
ilmbarb  instead  of  laudanum,  as  he  had  intended ;  and 
then,  father  flew  into  a  passion,  and  Tom  Whyte  was 
sent  to  fetch  tht)  doctor,  and  couldn't  find  him ;  but,  for- 
tunately, he  found  me,  which  was  nuich  better,  I  think, 


and 
intc 


tjlat 
o 


on 


to 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


61 


Rud  brought  me  up  here,  anil  so  here  I  iiui,  luul  liero  I 
inteiul  to  remain." 

*'  Auil  so  that's  the  end  of  it.  Well,  Kato,  I'm  very 
gUul  it  wan  no  worse." 

"  And  1  am  very  tlianlful,''  said  Kate,  with  emphasis 
on  the  word,  "  that  it's  no  worse." 

"  Oh,  well !  you  know,  Kate,  I  meant  that,  of  course." 

"  But  you  did  not  sen/  it,"  replied  his  sister,  earnestly. 

"  To  be  sure  not,"  said  Charley,  gaily  j  "  it  would  be 
absurd  to  be  always  making  solemn  speeches,  and  things 
of  that  sort,  every  time  one  has  a  little  accident." 

"  True,  Charley  ;  but  when  one  has  a  very  serious  ac- 
cident, and  escapes  unhurt,  don't  you  think  that  then  it 
would  be " 

"  Oh  yes,  to  be  sure  ! "  interrupted  Charley,  who  still 
strove  to  turn  Kate  from  her  serious  frame  of  mind ; 
**  but,  sister  dear,  how  could  I  possibly  say  I  was  thank- 
ful, with  my  head  criimmed  into  an  old  cask  and  my  feet 
pointing  up  to  the  blue  sky  ?  eh  !" 

Kate  smiled  at  this,  and  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm, 
while  she  bent  over  the  pillow  and  looked  tenderly  into 
his  eyes. 

"  Oh,  my  darling  Charley  !  you  are  disposed  to  jest 
about  it ;  but  I  cannot  tell  you  how  my  heart  trembled 
this  morning,  when  I  heard  from  Tom  Whyte  of  what 
had  happened.  As  we  drove  up  to  the  fort,  I  thought 
how  terrible  it  would  have  been  if  you  had  been  killed ; 
and  then  the  happy  days  we  have  spent  together  rushed 
into  my  mind,  and  I  thought  of  the  willow  creek  where 
we  used  to  fish  for  gold-eyes,  and  the  spot  in  the  woods 
where  we  have  so  often  chased  the  little  birds ;  and  the 
lake  in  the  prairies  where  we  used  to  go  in  spring  to 


(./  •: 


( « 


■'J 


1.  ^ 


G: 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


V 


watch  the  ■vviitci'fowl  sporting  in  tlio  sun.sliinc — wIk'II  I 
rocall(!d  tlii^so  things,  Charh^y,  and  thought  of  yon  as  i\viu\, 
1  felt  as  if  I  shouhl  die  t(Jo.  And  when  I  came  here  and 
found  tliat  my  feai-s  were  needless,  that  you  were  alive 
and  safe,  and  almost  avoII,  I  felt  thankful — ^yes,  veiy,  veiy 
tliiinkfnl — to  God,  for  sparing  your  life,  my  dear,  dear 
( 'liarky."  And  Kate  laid  her  head  on  his  bosom  and 
s(jbl)ed,  when  she  thought  of  what  might  have  been,  as  if 
her  very  heart  would  break. 

Charley's  disposition  to  levity  entirely  vanished  while 
Iiis  sister  spoke  ;  and,  twining  his  tough  little  arm  round 
her  neck,  he  pressed  her  fei'vently  to  his  heart. 

"  Bless  you,  Kate,"  he  said  at  length.  "  I  am  indeed 
thiinkful  to  God,  not  only  for  sparing  my  lif*  at  for 
giving  mo  sucli  a  darling  sister  to  live  for.  But  no,  ^ 
Kate,  tell  me,  what  do  you  think  of  father's  determination 
to  have  me  placed  in  the  office  here  ?" 

"  Indeed,  I  think  it's  very  hard.  Oh,  I  do  wish  so 
much  that  I  could  do  it  for  you,"  said  Kate,  with  a  sigh. 

**  Do  what  for  me  ?"  asked  Charley. 

*'  Why,  the  office  woi-k,"  said  Kate. 

"  Tuts  !  fiddlesticks  !  But  isn't  it,  now,  really  a  re?v/ 
hard  case?" 

"  Indeed  it  is  ;  but,  then,  what  can  you  do  1" 

"  Do  1 "  said  Charley,  impatiently  ;  "  run  away,  to 
be  sure." 

"  Oh,  don't  speak  of  that  !"  said  Kate,  anxiously. 
"  You  know  it  will  kill  our  beloved  mother ;  and  then 
it  -would  grieve  father  very  much." 

"  Well,  father  don't  care  much  about  grieving  me, 
when  he  hunted  me  down  like  a  wolf  till  I  nearly  broke 
my  neck." 


FH  >W  TM:  FAIl  NORTH. 


g:( 


"  Now,  Charley,  you  must  not  speak  so.  Fatliei*  love>< 
you  tenderly,  altliougli  he  is  a  little  rough  nt  times.  If 
you  only  heard  how  kindly  he  speaks  of  you  to  our  mo- 
ther when  you  are  away,  you  could  not  think  of  giving 
him  so  n\uch  j)ain.  And  then,  tho  Bible  says,  *  n(jnour 
tliy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days  may  be  long  in 
the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee  ;'  an<l,  as 
(iod  speaks  in  tho  Bible,  surclj  we  should  i)ay  attention 
to  it !" 

Charley  was  silent  for  a  few  seconds  ;  then,  heaving  a 
deep  sigh,  he  said — 

**  Well,  I  believe  you're  right,  Kate ;  but,  then,  what 
am  I  to  do  ?  If  I  don't  run  away,  I  must  live,  like  poor 
Ilany  Somerville,  on  a  long-legged  stool  j  and  if  I  do 
tluit,  I'll— I'll ^" 

As  Charley  spoke,  the  door  opened,  and  his  father 
entered.  , 

"  Well,  my  boy,"  said  he,  seating  himself  on  the  bed- 
side, and  taking  his  son's  hand,  "  how  goes  it  now  1  Head 
getting  all  right  again  ?  I  fear  that  Kate  has  been  talk- 
ing too  much  to  you.     Is  it  so,  you  little  chatterbox  ?" 

Mr  Kennedy  parted  Kate's  clustering  ringlets,  and 
kissed  her  forehead. 

Charley  assured  his  father  that  he  was  almost  well,  and 
much  the  better  of  having  Kate  to  tend  him.  In  fact, 
he  felt  so  much  revived,  that  he  said  he  would  get  up 
and  go  out  for  a  walk. 

"  Had  I  not  better  tell  Tom  Wliyte  to  saddle  the  young 
horse  for  youl"  said  his  father,  half  ironically.  "No, 
no,  boy,  lie  still  where  you  are  to-day,  and  get  up  if  you 
feel  better  to-morrow.  In  the  mean  time,  I've  come  to 
say  good-bye,  as  I  intend  to  go  home  to  relieve  your  mo- 


J-^        * 


ni   II 


G4 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


tlier's  anxiety  about  yon.  I'll  see  you  again,  probably, 
the  day  after  to-morrow.  Hark  you,  boy ;  I've  been 
talking  your  affaii's  over  agaiii  with  Mr  Grant,  and  we've* 
come  to  tlie  conclusion  to  give  you  a  run  in  the  woods  for 
a.  time.  You'll  have  to  be  ready  to  stai*t  early  in  spring 
with  the  first  brigades  for  the  N^orth.     So  adieu  !" 

Mr  Kennedy  patted  him  on  the  head,  and  hastily  left 
tl;  !  room. 

A  burning  blush  of  shame  arose  on  Charley's  check 
as  he  recollected  his  late  remarks  about  his  father ; 
and  then,  recalling  the  purport  of  his  last  words,  he 
sent  forth  an  eiailting  shout  as  he  thought  of  the  coming 
spring. 

"  Well,  now,  Charley,"  said  Kate,  mth  an  arch  smile, 
"  let  us  talk  seriously  over  your  arrangements  for  running 
away." 

Charley  replied  by  seizing  the  pillow  and  throwing 
it  at  his  sister's  head ;  but,  being  accustomed  to  such 
eccentricities,  she  anticipated  the  movement  and  evaded 
the  blow. 

"  ^  xi  !  Charley,"  cried  Kate,  laughing,  "  you  mustn't 
let  your  hand  get  out  of  practice  !  That  was  a  shock- 
ingly bad  shot  for  a  man  tliirsting  to  become  a  bear  and 
V  uffalo  hunter  ! " 

"  I'll  make  my  fortune  at  once,"  cried  Charley,  as 
Kate  replaced  the  pillow,  "  build  a  wooden  castle  on  the 
shores  of  Gi-eat  Uear  Lake,  take  you  to  kecj)  house  foi" 
mo,  ond,  when  I'm  out  hunting,  you'll  fish  for  whales  in 
the  lake,  and  we'll  live  there  to  a  good  old  age ;  so  good 
night,  Kate,  dear,  and  go  to  bed  !" 

]vate  laughe'l,  gave  her  brother  a  parting  kiss,  and  left 
him. 


FUOai  THE  FAR  NOKTU. 


on 


CHAPTER  VI. 


spring  and  the  Votjageurs 


Winter,  with  its  snow  and  its  ice  ;  winter,  witli  its 
sharp  winds  and  white  drifts ;  winter,  with  its  various 
characteristic  occupations  and  employments,  is  past,  and 
it  is  spring  now. 

The  sun  no  k)ngcr  glitters  on  fields  of  white ;  the 
woodman's  axe  is  no  longer  heard  hacking  the  oak(.'U 
billets,  to  keep  alive  the  roaring  fn-es.  That  inexpressihly 
cheerful  sound,  the  merry  chime  of  sleigh-hells,  that 
tells  more  of  winter  than  all  other  sounds  together,  is  no 
lonjier  heard  on  the  bosom  of  Red  River,  for  the  sleiol's 
arc  thrown  aside  as  useless  lumber — carts  and  gigs  ha^t! 
supplanted  them.  The  eld  Canadian,  who  used  to  drive 
the  ox  with  its  water-barrel  to  the  ice-hole  for  his  daily 
supply,  has  substituted  o  small  cart  with  wheels  for  the 
old  sleigh  that  used  to  glide  so  smoothly  over  the  snow, 
and  jrit  so  sharply  on  it  in  the  more  than  usually  frosty 
mornings  in  the  days  gone  by.  The  trees  have  lost  their 
white  patches,  and  the  clumps  of  willows,  that  used  to 
look  like  islands  in  tiie  prairie,  have  disappeared,  as  the 
carpeting  that  gave  them  prominence  has  dissolved.  The 
aspect  of  everything  in  the  isolated  settlement  has 
changed.  The  winter  is  gone,  and  sjjring — bright,  beauti- 
ful, hilarious  spring — ha«  come  again. 


66 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


By  those  wlio  liave  never  known  an  arctic  winter,  the 
(.It'liglits  of  an  arctic  spring  can  never,  we  fear,  be  fully 
appreciated  or  understood.  Contrast  is  one  of  its 
sti'oiigest  elements  ;  indeed,  we  might  say,  the  element 
which  gives  to  all  the  others  pecidiar  zest.  Life  in 
the  arctic  regions  is  like  one  of  Turner's  pictures,  in 
which  the  lights  are  strong,  the  shadows  deep,  and  the 
tont -ensemble  hazy  and  romantic.  So  cold  and  prolonged 
is  the  winter,  that  the  first  mild  breath  of  spring  breaks 
(»n  the  senses  like  a  zej^hyr  from  the  plains  of  paradise. 
Everything  bursts  suddenly  into  vigorous  life,  after  the 
long  death-like  sleep  of  Nature  ;  as  little  children  burst 
into  the  romping  gaieties  of  a  new  day,  after  the  deep 
repose  of  a  long  and  tranqval  night.  The  snow  melts,  the 
ice  breaks  up,  and  rushes  in  broken  masses,  heaving  and 
tossing  in  the  rising  floods,  that  grind  and  whirl  them 
into  the  ocean,  or  into  those  great  fresh-water  lakes  that 
vie  with  ocean  itself  in  miignitude  and  grandeur.  The 
biuls  come  o\it  and  the  leaves  appear,  clothing  all  natnre 
with  a  bright  refreshing  green,  which  derives  additional 
brilliancy  from  sundry  patches  of  snow,  that  fill  the  deep 
creeks  and  hollows  everyAvhere,  and  form  ephemeral  foun- 
tains whose  waters  continue  to  supply  a  thousand  rills 
for  many  a  long  day,  until  the  fierce  glare  of  the  summer 
Bun  prevails  at  last  and  melts  them  all  away. 

Eed  Eiver  flows  on  now  to  mix  its  long  pent-up  waters 
with  Lake  Winipeg.  Boats  are  seeii  rowing  about  upon 
its  waters,  as  the  settlere  travel  from  place  to  place  ;  and 
wooden  canoes,  made  of  the  hollo  wed-out  trunks  of  large 
trees,  shoot  across  from  shore  to  shore, — these  canoes  being 
a  substitute  for  bridges,  of  which  there  are  none,  althougli 
the  settlement  lies  on  both  sides  of  the  river.    Birds  have 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


67 


now  entered  upon  tlie  scene,  their  wild  cries  and  ceaseless 
flight  adding  to  it  a  cheerful  activity.  Ground  squiiTels 
pop  up  out  of  their  holes,  to  bask  their  round,  fat,  beauti- 
fully-striped little  bodies  in  the  sun,  or  to  gaze  in  admi- 
ration at  the  farmer,  as  he  urges  a  pair  of  very  slow-g(jin^ 
oxen,  that  drag  the  plough  at  a  pace  which  induces  one 
to  believe  that  the  wide  field  mwj  possibly  be  ploughed  uji 
by  the  end  of  next  year.  Frogs  whistle  in  the  marshy 
grounds  so  loudly,  that  men  new  to  the  country  believe 
tliey  are  being  regaled  by  the  songs  of  millions  of  birds. 
There  is  no  mistake  about  their  whistle.  It  is  not  merely 
like  a  whistle,  but  it  is  a  whistle,  shrill  and  continuous ;  and, 
as  the  swamps  swarm  with  these  creatures,  the  soDg  never 
ceases  for  a  moment,  although  each  individual  frog  creates 
only  cne  little  gush  of  music,  composed  of  half-a-dozen 
trills,  and  then  stops  a  moment  for  breath  before  com- 
mencing the  second  bar.  Bull-frogs,  too,  though  not  so 
numerous,  help  to  vary  the  sound  by  croaking  voci- 
ferously, as  if  they  understood  the  value  of  bass,  and 
were  glad  of  having  an  opportunity  to  join  in  the  uni- 
versal hum  of  life  and  joy  which  rises  everywhere,  from 
the  river  and  the  swamp,  the  forest  and  the  prairie,  to 
welcome  back  the  spring. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  in  Red  River  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  when  a  band  of  voyageurs  lounged  in 
scattered  groups  about  the  front  gate  of  Fort  Gai-ry. 
They  were  as  fine  a  set  of  picturesque  manly  fellows  as 
one  could  desire  to  see.  Their  mode  of  life  rendt^red 
them  healthy,  hardy,  and  good-humoured,  with  a  strong 
dash  of  recklessness — perhaps  too  much  of  it — in  some  of 
the  younger  men.  Being  descended,  generally,  from 
French-Canadian  sires  and  Indian  mothers,  they  united 


C8 


SNOWFLAKES  AXD  SUNBEAMS 


some  of  tlie  good,  and  not  a  few  of  the  Lad,  qualities  of 
both,  mentally  as  well  as  physically  ;  combining  the  light, 
g.  y-hearted  spii-it,  and  full  muscular  frame  of  the  Cana- 
dian, with  the  fierce  passions  and  active  habits  of  the 
Indian.  And  this  wildness  of  disposition  was  not  a  little 
fostered  by  the  nature  of  their  usual  occupations.  They 
were  employed  during  a  grea^j  part  of  the  year  in  navi- 
gating the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  boats,  laden  with 
furs  and  goods,  through  the  labyrinth  of  rivers  and  lakes 
that  stud  and  intersect  the  whole  continent,  or  tliev  were 
engaged  in  pursuit  of  the  bisons, '•■  which  roam  the  prairies 
in  vast  herds. 

Thev  were  dressed  in  the  costume  of  the  countrv  ; 
most  of  them  wore  light-blue  cloth  capotes,  girded  tightly 
round  them  by  scarlet  or  crimson  worsted  belts.  Some 
of  them  had  blue,  anil  others  scarlet  cloth  leggins,  orna- 
mented more  or  less  with  stained  porcupine  quills, 
coloiired  silk,  or  variegated  beads ;  while  some  might  be 
seen  clad  in  the  leathern  coats  of  winter, — deer-skin  dressed 
like  chamois  leather,  fringed  all  round  with  little  tails, 
and  ornamented  much  in  the  same  way  as  those  already 
described.  The  heavy  winter  mocassins  and  dulfle  socks, 
which  gave  to  their  feet  the  appearance  of  being  alHicted 
\^•ith  gout,  were  now  r(^placed  by  mocassins  of  a  lighter 
ami  more  elegant  character,  having  no  socks  below,  and 
titting  tightly  to  the  feet  like  gloves.  Home  wore  hats 
similar  to  those  made  of  silk  or  beaver,  which  are  worn 
Ity  ourselves  in  Britain,  but  so  bedizened  with  scai'let 
cock-tail  feathera,  and  silver  cords  and  tassels,  as  to  leave 
the  original  form  of  the  head-dress  a  matter  of  great  \in- 
cei'tainty.     These  hats,  however,  are  only  used  on  high 


*  These  animals  are  always  called  buffaloes  by  American  hunters  and  fur- 
traders. 


FROM  THE  FAtl  NORTH. 


69 


occasions,  and  chiefly  hy  the  fops.     Most  of  the  men  wore 
coarse  bhie  cloth  caps  with  peaks,  and  not  a  few  discarded 
head-pieces  altogether,  under  the  impression,  apparently, 
that  nature  had  supplied  a  covering,  which  was  in  itself 
suflicicnt.     These  costumes  varied  not  only  in  character 
but  in  quality,  according  to  the   circumstances   of  the 
wearer ;   some   being   highly  ornamental   and   mended — 
evincing  the  felicity  of  the  owner  in  the  possession  of  a 
good  wife — while   others  were  soiled  and  torn,  or  but 
slightly  ornamented.     The    voyagettrs  were    collected,   as 
we  have  said,   in  groups.     Here  stood  a   dozen   of  the 
youngest, — consequently  the  most  noisy  and  showily  dressed 
— huighing  loudly,  gesticulating  violently,  and  bragging 
tremendously.     Near  to  them  were  collected  a  number  of 
sterner  spirits — men  of  middle  age — with  all  the  energy, 
and  muscle,  and  bone  of  youth,  but  without  its  swagger- 
ing hilarity, — men  whose  powers  and  nerves  had  been 
tried  over  and  over  again  amid  the  Stirling  scenes  of  a 
vojjageurs   life ;    men   whose  heads  were   cool,  and  eyes 
sharp,  and  hands  ready  and  powerful,  in  the  mad  whirl  of 
boilinf  rapids,   in   the  sudden  attack  of  wild  beast  and 
hostile  man,  or  in  the  unexpected  approach  of  any  danger  ; 
men  who,   having  been  well  tried,  needed  not  to  boast, 
and  who,  having  carried  off  triumphantly  their  respective 
brides  many  years  ago,  needed  not  to  decorate  their  per- 
sons   with    the    absurd    finery  that    characterised   their 
younger    brethren.      They    were    comparatively   few    in 
number,  but  they  composed  a  sterling  band,  of  which 
every  man  was  a  hero.     Among  them  were  those  who 
occupied  the  high  positions  of  bowman  and  steersman ; 
and  when  wo  tell  the  reader  that  on  these  two  men  fre- 
quently hangs  the  safety  of  a  boat,  with  all  its  crew  and 


H 


..a\ 


70 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


lading,  it  will  be  easily  understood  how  needful  it  is  that 
they  should  be  men  of  iron  nerve  and  strength  of  mind. 

Boat-travelling  in  these  regions  is  conducted  in  a  way 
that  would  astonish  most  people  who  dwell  in  the  civilised 
quartei-s  of  the  globe.  The  country  being  intersected  in 
all  directions  by  great  lakes  and  rivers,  these  have  been 
adopted  as  the  most  convenient  highways,  along  which  to 
convey  the  supplies  and  bring  back  the  furs  from  out- 
posts. Rivers  in  America,  however,  as  in  other  pai-ts  of 
the  world,  are  distinguished  by  sudden  ebullitions  and 
turbulent  points  of  character,  in  the  shape  of  rapids,  falls, 
and  cataracts,  up  and  down  which  neither  men  nor  boats 
can  by  any  possibility  go  with  impunity ;  consequently, 
on  arriving  at  such  obstructions,  the  cargoes  are  carried 
overland  to  navigable  water  above  or  below  the  falls  (as 
the  case  may  be),  then  the  boats  are  dragged  over  and 
launched,  again  reloaded,  and  the  travellers  proceed.  This 
operation  is  called  "  making  a  portage ; "  and  as  these 
portages  vary  from  twelve  yards  to  twelve  miles  in  length, 
it  may  be  readily  conceived  that  a  voyageur's  life  is  not 
an  easy  one  by  any  means. 

This,  however,  is  only  one  of  his  difficulties.  Rapids 
occur  which  are  not  so  dangerous  as  to  make  a  "  portage  " 
necessary,  but  are  sufficiently  turbulent  to  render  the 
descent  of  them  perilous.  In  such  cases,  the  boats,  being 
lightened  of  j)art  of  their  cargo,  are  i-un  down,  and  fre- 
quently they  descend  with  full  cargoes  and  crews.  It  is 
then  that  the  whole  management  of  each  boat  devolves 
upon  its  bowman  and  steersman.  The  rest  of  the  crew, 
or  middlemen  as  they  are  called,  merely  sit  still  and  look 
on,  or  give  a  stroke  with  their  oars  if  required  ;  wliile  the 
jsteeraman,  with  powerful  SAveeps  of  his  heavy  oar,  directs 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


71 


tlie  flying  boat  as  it  bounds  from  surge  to  surge  like  a 
thing  of  life ;  and  the  bowman  stands  erect  in  front  to 
assist  in  directing  liis  comrade  at  tlie  stern,  having  a 
strong  and  long  pole  in  his  hands,  with  which,  ever  and 
anon,  he  violently  forces  the  boat's-head  away  from 
sunken  rocks,  against  which  it  might  otherwise  strike 
and  be  stove  in,  capsized,  or  seriously  damaged. 

Besides  the  groups  already  enumerated,  there  were  one 
or  two  others,  composed  of  grave,  elderly  men,  whose 
wrinkled  brows,  gray  hairs,  and  slow,  quiet  step,  shewed 
that  the  strength  of  their  days  was  past ;  although  their 
upright  figures  and  warm  brown  complexions  gave  pro- 
mise of  their  living  to  see  many  summers  still.  These 
were  the  principal  steersmen  and  old  guides — men  of 
renown,  to  whom  the  others  bowed  as  oracles,  or  looked 
up  as  fathers  ;  men  Avhose  youth  and  manhood  had  been 
spent  in  roaming  the  trackless  wilderness,  and  who  weie, 
therefore,  eminently  qualified  to  guide  brigades  through 
the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land ;  men  whose  power 
of  threading  their  way  among  the  perplexing  intricacies 
of  the  forest  had  become  a  second  nature,  a  kind  of 
instinct,  that  was  as  sure  of  attaining  its  end  as  the 
instinct  of  the  feathered  tribes,  wjuch  brings  the  swallow, 
after  a  long  absence,  with  unerring  certainty  back  to  its 
former  liaunts  again  in  spiing, 


72 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


CHAPTER  VII. 


The  Store. 


At  wliatevor  establishment  in  the  fur-trader's  dominions 
you  may  cliance  to  alight,  you  will  find  a  particular  build- 
ing which  is  surrounded  by  a  halo  of  interest ;  towards 
which  there  seems  to  be  a  general  leaning  on  the  part  of 
everybody,  especially  of  the  Indians,  and  with  which  are 
connected,  in  the  minds  of  all,  the  most  stirring  remi- 
niscences and  pleasing  associations. 

TJus  is  the  trading  store.  It  is  always  recognisable,  if 
natives  are  in  the  neighbourhood,  by  the  bevy  of  red  men 
that  cluster  round  it,  awaiting  the  coming  of  the  store- 
keeper or  the  trader  with  that  stoic  patience  which  is 
j)eculiar  to  Indians.  It  may  be  further  recognised,  by 
a  close  observer,  by  the  soiled  condition  of  its  walls, 
occasioned  by  loungers  rubbing  their  backs  perpetually 
against  it,  and  the  peculiar  dinginess  round  the  key- 
hole, caused  by  frequent  applications  of  the  key,  which 
lenders  it  conspicuous  beyond  all  its  comrades.  Here  is 
contained  that  which  makes  the  red  man's  life  enjoyable  ; 
that  which  causes  his  heart  to  leap,  and  induces  him  to 
toil  for  months  and  months  together  in  the  heat  of  sum- 
mer and  amid  the  frost  and  snow  of  winter ;  that  which 
octualltj  accomplishes,  what  music  is  mid  to  achieve,  the 
"soothing  of  the  suvags  breast;"  in  short,  here  are 
stored  up  blankets,  guns,  powder,  shot,  kettles,  ajj^s,.  and 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


78 


kiuves ;  twine  for  nets,  vermilion  for  war-jiaint,  fish- 
hooks and  scalping  knives,  capotes,  cloth,  beads,  needles, 
and  a  host  of  miscellaneous  articles,  much  too  numerous 
to  mention.  Here,  also,  occur  periodical  scenes  of  bustle 
and  excitement,  when  bands  of  natives  arrive  from  distant 
hunting-grounds,  laden  with  rich  furs,  which  are  speedily 
transferred  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  stores  in 
exchange  for  the  goods  afore-mentioned.  And  many  a 
tough  wrangle  has  the  trader  on  such  occasions  with 
sharp  natives,  who  might  have  graduated  in  Billingsgate 
— so  close  are  they  at  a  bargain.  Here,  too,  voyageura 
are  supplied  with  an  equivalent  for  their  wages,  part  in 
advance,  if  they  desire  it  (and  they  generally  do  desire 
it),  and  paii;  at  the  conclusion  of  their  long  and  arduous 
voyr.ges. 

It  is  to  one  of  these  stores,  reader,  that  we  wish  to  in- 
troduce you  now,  that  you  may  witness  the  men  of  the 
North  brigade  receive  their  advances. 

The  store  at  Fort  Garry  stands  on  the  right  of  the  fort, 
as  you  enter  by  the  front  gate.  Its  interior  resembles 
that  of  the  other  stores  in  the  country,  being  only  a  little 
larger.  A  counter  encloses  a  space  sufficiently  wide  to 
admit  a  dozen  men,  and  serves  to  keep  back  those  who  are 
more  eager  than  the  rest.  Inside  this  counter,  at  the  time 
we  write  of,  stood  our  friend  Peter  Mactavish,  who  was 
the  presiding  genius  of  the  scene. 

"  Shut  the  door  now,  and  lock  it,"  said  Peter,  in  an 
authoritative  tone,  after  eight  or  ten  young  voijageurs  had 
crushed  into  the  space  in  front  of  the  counter.  "  I'll  not 
supply  you  with  so  much  as  an  ounce  of  tobacco  if  you  let 
in  another  man." 

Peter  needed  not  to  repeat  the  command.     Tliree  or 

F 


74 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


four  stalwart  sliouldera  were  applied  to  the  door,  whicli 
shut  with  a  bang  like  a  cannon-shot,  and  the  key  wan 
turned. 

"  Come,  now,  Antoine,"  begnu  the  trader,  "  we've  lots 
to  do,  and  not  much  time  to  do  it  in,  so  pray  look  sharp." 

Antoine,  however,  was  not  to  be  urged  on  so  easily. 
Ho  had  been  meditating  deeply  all  morning  on  what  he 
should  purchase.  Moreover,  he  hud  a  sweetheart ;  and, 
of  course,  he  had  to  buy  something  for  her,  before  setting 
out  on  his  travels.  Besides,  Antoine  was  six  feet  high, 
and  broad  shouldered,  and  well  made,  wit  i  a  dark  face 
and  glossy  black  hair ;  and  ho  entertained  a  notion  that 
there  were  one  or  two  points  in  his  costume  which  re- 
quired to  be  carefully  rectified,  ere  he  could  consider  that 
he  had  attained  to  perfection  :  so  he  brushed  the  long 
hair  off  his  forehead,  crossed  his  arms,  and  gazed  around 
him. 

"  Come,  now,  Antoine,"  said  Peter,  tliroAving  a  green 
blanket  at  him,  "  I  know  you  want  that  to  begin  with. 
What's  the  use  of  thinking  so  long  about  it  1 — eh '?  And 
that,  too,"  he  added,  throwing  him  a  blue  cloth  capote. 
"  Anything  else  ? " 

"  Oui,  oui,  monsieur,"  cried  Antoine,  as  he  disengaged 
himself  from  the  folds  of  the  coat  which  Peter  had  tlirown 
over  his  head.     "  Tabac,  monsieur  !  tabac  ! " 

"  Oh,  to  be  sure,"  cried  Peter.  "  I  might  have  guessed 
that  that  was  uppermost  in  your  mind.  "Well,  how  much 
will  you  have  'I "  Peter  began  to  unwind  the  fragrant 
weed  off  a  coil  of  most  appalling  size  and  thickness,  which 
looked  like  a  snake  of  endless  length.  "  Will  that  do  ? " 
and  he  flourished  about  four  feet  of  the  snake  before  the 
eyes  of  the  voyageur. 


'^:. 


■.jmt 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTR. 


75 


Antoine  accepted  the  quantity  ]  and  young  Harry 
Sonierville  entered  the  articles  against  him  in  a  book. 

"  Anything  more,  Antoine  1 "  said  the  trader.  "  Ah, 
some  beads,  and  silks  ! — eh  I  Oho,  Antoine  !  By  the 
way,  Louis,  have  you  seen  Annette  lately  1 " 

Peter  turned  to  another  voyageur  when  he  put  this 
question,  and  the  voyogcur  gave  a  broad  grin  as  he  replied 
in  the  affirmative  ',  while  Antoine  looked  a  little  confused. 
He  did  not  care  much,  however,  for  jesting.  So,  after 
getting  one  or  two  more  articles — not  forgetting  half-a- 
dozen  clay  pipes,  and  a  few  yards  of  gaudy  calico,  which 
called  forth  from  Peter  a  second  reference  to  Annette — 
he  bundled  up  his  goods,  and  made  way  for  another 
comrade.    • 

Louis  Peltier,  one  of  the  principal  guides,  and  a  man  of 
importance  therefore,  now  stood  forward.  He  was  pro- 
bably about  forty-five  yean  of  age ;  had  a  plain,  olive- 
coloured  countenance,  surrounded  by  a  mass  of  long,  jet- 
black  hair,  which  he  inherited,  along  with  a  pair  of  dark 
piercing  eyes,  from  his  Indian  mother ;  and  a  robust, 
heavy,  yet  active  frame,  which  bore  a  strong  resemblance 
to  what  his  Canadian  father's  had  been  many  years  before. 
His  arms,  in  particular,  were  of  herculean  mould,  with 
large  swelling  veins,  and  strongly-marked  muscles.  They 
seemed,  in  fact,  just  formed  for  the  purpose  of  pulling  the 
heavy  sweep  of  an  inland  boat  among  strong  rapids.  Ilis 
face  combined  an  expression  of  stern  resolution  with 
great  good-humour ;  and,  truly,  his  countenance  did  not 
belie  him,  for  he  was  kno^vn  among  his  comrades  aa  the 
most  courageous,  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  most  peaceable 
man  in  the  settlement.  Louis  Peltier  was  singular  in  pos- 
sessing the  latter  quality,  for  assuredly,  the  half-breeds, — 


^ 

^^^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


A 


1.0 


I.I 


IA&12.8 

150     ^^^B 

u  m 


us 

IB 


14.0 


1.25  III  1.4 


|25 
|2j2 

20 

1.6 


6" 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)87^4503 


'^V^ 


4r 


r  I 


7G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


whatever  other  good  points  they  boast,— cannot  lay  claim 
to  very  gentle  or  dove-like  dispositions.  His  gray  capote 
and  blue  leggins  were  decorated  with  no  unusual  orna- 
ments, and  the  scarlet  belt  which  encircled  his  massive 
figure  was  the  only  bit  of  colour  he  displayed. 

The  younger  men  fell  respectfully  into  the  rear,  as 
Louis  stepped  forward,  and  begged  pardon  for  coming  so 
early  in  the  day.  "  Mais,  monsieur,"  he  said,  "  I  have  to 
look  after  the  boats  to-day,  and  get  them  ready  for  a  start 
to-morrow." 

Peter  Mactavish  gave  Louis  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand 
before  proceeding  to  supply  his  wants,  which  were  simple 
and  moderate,  excepting  in  the  article  of  tohac^  in  the  use 
of  which  he  was  fV/i-moderate — being  an  inveterate  smoker ; 
so  that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  snake  had  to  be  un- 
coiled for  his  benefit. 

"  Fond  as  ever  of  smoking,  Louis,"  said  Peter  Mac- 
tavish, as  he  handed  him  the  coil. 

"  Oui,  monsieur — ^very  fond,"  answered  the  guide,  smel- 
ling the  weed.  "  Ah,  tliis  is  very  good.  I  must  take  a 
good  supply  this  voyage,  because  I  lost  the  half  of  my 
roll  last  year,"  and  the  guide  gave  a  sigh  as  he  thought 
of  the  overwhelming  bereavement. 

"  Lost  the  half  of  it,  Louis  ! "  said  Mactavish.  "  Why, 
how  was  that  ?  You  must  have  lost  more  than  half  your 
spirits  with  it ! " 

"  Ah !  oui,  I  lost  all  my  spirits,  and  my  comrade 
rran9ois  at  the  same  time  ! " 

"  Dear  me ! "  exclaimed  the  clerk,  bustling  about  the 
store,  while  the  guide  continued  to  talk. 

"  Oui,  monsieur — oui.  I  lost  him,  and  my  tabac- 
and  my  spirits,  and  very  nearly  my  life,  all  in  one  mo- 
ment 1" 


s_ 


FROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


77 


as 


^  Why  ! — ^how  came  that  about  1 "  said  Peter,  pausing 
iu  his  work,  and  laying  a  handful  of  pipes  on  the  counter. 

"  Ah !  monsieur,  it  was  very  sad  (merci,  monsieur, 
merci,  thirty  pipes,  if  you  please),  and  I  thought  at  the 
time  that  I  should  give  up  my  voyageur  life,  and  remain 
altogether  in  the  settlement  with  my  old  woman.  Mais, 
monsieur,  that  was  not  possible.  When  I  spoke  of  it  to 
my  old  woman,  she  called  me  an  old  woman ;  and,  you 
know,  monsieur,  that  two  old  women  never  could  live 
together  in  peace  for  twelve  months  under  the  same  roof. 
So  here  I  am,  you  see,  ready  again  for  the  voyage." 

The  voyageurs,  who  had  drawn  round  Louis  when  he 
alluded  to  an  anecdote  which  they  had  often  heard  before, 
but  were  never  weaiy  of  hearing  over  again,  laughed 
loudly  at  this  sally,  and  urged  the  guide  to  relate  the 
stoiy  to  "monsieur"  who,  nothing  loath* to  suspend  his 
operations  for  a  little,  leaned  his  arms  on  the  counter, 
and  said — 

"  Tell  us  all  about  it,  Louis  j  I  am  anxious  to  know 
how  you  managed  to  come  by  so  many  losses  all  at  one 
time." 

"  Bien,  monsieur,  I  shall  soon  relate  it,  for  the  story  is 
very  short." 

Harry  Somerville,  who  was  entering  the  pipes  in 
Louis's  account,  had  just  set  down  the  figures  "  30  "  when 
Louis  cleared  his  throat  to  begin.  Not  having  the 
mental  fortitude  to  finish  the  line,  he  dropped  his  pen, 
sprang  oflf  his  stool,  which  he  upset  in  so  doing,  jumped 
up,  sitting-ways,  upon  the  counter,  and  gazed  with 
breathless  interest  into  the  guide's  face  as  he  spoke. 

"  It  was  on  a  cold,  wet  afternoon,"  said  Louis,  "  that 
we  were  descending  the  Hill  river,  at  a  part  of  the  rapids 


f  I 


( 


j  if 


78 


SNOWFIiAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


where  there  is  a  sharp  bend  in  the  stream,  and  two  or 
tliree  great  rocks  that  stand  up  in  front  of  the  water,  as 
it  plunges  over  a  ledge,  as  if  they  were  put  there  a'  pur- 
pose to  catch  it,  and  split  it  up  into  foam,  or  to  stop  the 
boats  and  canoes  that  try  to  run  the  rapids,  and  cut  them 
up  into  splinters.  It  was  an  ugly  place,  monsieur,  I  can 
tell  you,  and  though  I've  run  it  again  and  again,  I 
always  hold  my  breath  tighter  when  we  get  to  the  top, 
and  breathe  freer  when  we  get  to  the  bottom.  Well, 
there  was  a  chum  of  mine  at  the  bow,  Frangois  by  name, 
and  a  fine  fellow  he  was,  as  I  ever  came  across.  He 
used  to  sleep  with  me  at  night  under  the  same  blanket, 
although  it  was  somewhat  inconvenient  j  for,  being  as  big 
as  rp.yself  andi  a  stone  heavier,  it  was  all  we  could  do  to 
make  the  blanket  cover  us.  However,  he  and  I  were 
great  friends,  and  we  managed  it  somehow.  Well,  he 
was  at  the  bow  when  we  took  the  rapids — and  a  first-rate 
bowman  he  made.  His  pole  was  twice  as  long  and  twice 
as  thick  as  any  other  pole  in  the  boat,  and  he  twisted  it 
about  just  like  a  fiddlestick.  I  remember  well  the  night 
before  we  came  to  the  rapids,  as  he  was  sitting  by  the 
fire  which  was  blazing  up  among  the  pine  branches  that 
overhimg  us,  he  said  that  he  wanted  a  good  pole  for  the 
rapids  next  day,  and  with  that  he  jumped  up,  laid  hold 
of  an  axe,  and  went  back  into  the  woods  a  bit  to  get  one. 
When  he  returned,  he  brought  a  young  tree  on  his 
shoulder,  which  he  began  to  strip  of  its  branches  and 
bark.  *  Louis,'  says  he,  '  this  is  hot  work,  give  us  a  pipe,' 
so  I  rummaged  about  for  some  tobacco,  but  found  there 
was  none  left  in  ray  bag ;  so  I  went  to  my  kit  and  got 
out  my  roll,  about  three  fathoms  or  so,  and  cutting  half 
of  it  off,  I  went  to  the  fire  and  twisted  it  round  his  neck 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


79 


by  way  of  a  joke,  and  he  said  he'd  wear  it  as  a  necklace 
all  night — and  so  he  did,  too,  and  forgot  to  take  it  off  in 
the  morning;  and  when  we  came  near  the  rapids  I 
couldn't  get  at  my  bag  to  stow  it  away,  so,  says  I, 
'  FranQois,  you'll  have  to  run  with  it  on,  for  I  can't  stop 
to  stow  it  now.'  'All  right,'  says  he,  *go-a-head,'  and 
just  as  he  said  it,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  first  run,  foam- 
ing and  boiling  like  a  kettle  of  robiboo.  'Take  care, 
lads,'  I  cried,  and  the  next  moment  we  were  dashing 
down  towards  the  bend  in  the  river.  As  we  came  near 
to  the  shoot,  I  saw  Frangois  standing  up  on  the  gunwale 
to  get  a  better  view  of  the  rocks  a-head,  and  every  now 
and  then  giving  me  a  signal  with  his  hand  how  to  steer  j 
suddenly  he  gave  a  shout,  and  plunged  his  long  pole  into 
the  water,  to  fend  off  from  a  rock  which  a  swirl  in  the 
stream  had  concealed.  For  a  second  or  two  his  pole  bent 
like  a  willow,  and  we  could  feel  the  heavy  boat  jerk  off  a 
little  with  the  tremendous  strain ;  but  all  at  once  the  pole 
broke  off  short  with  a  crack,  Frangois'  heels  made  a 
flourish  in  the  air,  and  then  he  disappeared  head-foremost 
into  tTie  foaming  water,  with  my  tobacco  coiled  round  his 
neck !  As  we  flew  past  the  place,  one  of  his  arms 
appeared,  and  I  made  a  grab  at  it,  and  caught  him  by  the 
sleeve ;  but  the  effort  upset  myself,  and  over  I  went  too. 
Fortunately,  however,  one  of  my  men  caught  me  by  the 
foot  and  held  on  like  a  vice  ;  but  the  force  of  the  current 
tore  Francois'  sleeve  out  of  my  grasp,  and  I  was  dragged 
into  the  boat  again  just  in  time  to  see  my  comrade's  legs 
and  arms  going  like  the  sails  of  a  wind-mill,  as  he  rolled 
over  several  times  and  disappeared.  Well,  we  jmt 
ashore  the  moment  we  got  into  still  water,  and  then  five 
or  six  of  us  starteil  off  on  foot  to   look  for  FranQois. 


.-.f 


80 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


After  lialf-an-hour's  search,  we  found  him  pitched  upon  a 
flat  rock  in  the  middle  of  the  stream  like  a  bit  of  drift-wood. 
We  immediately  waded  out  to  the  rock  and  brought  him 
ashore,  where  we  lighted  a  fire,  took  off  all  his  clothes, 
and  rubbed  him  till  he  began  to  shew  signs  of  life  again. 
But  you  may  judge,  mes  gar^ons,  of  my  misery,  when  I 
found  that  the  coil  of  tobacco  was  gone.  It  had  come 
off  his  neck  during  his  struggles,  and  there  wasn't  a 
vestige  of  it  left,  except  a  bright  red  mark  on  the  throat, 
where  it  had  nearly  strangled  him.  When  he  began  to 
recover,  he  put  his  hand  up  to  his  neck  as  if  f  eling  for 
something,  and  muttered  faintly,  'the  tobac.'  *Ah, 
morbleu  ! '  said  I,  *  you  may  say  that !  Where  is  it  ?  * 
Well,  we  soon  b^'ought  him  round,  but  he  had  swallowed 
so  much  water  that  it  damaged  his  lungs,  and  we  had  to 
leave  him  at  the  next  post  we  came  to,  and  so  1  lost  my 
friend,  too." 

"Did  Francois  get  better?"  said  Charley  Kennedy, 
in  a  voice  of  great  concern. 

Charley  had  entered  the  store  by  another  door,  just  as 
the  guide  began  his  story,  and  had  listened  to  it  un- 
observed with  breathless  interest. 

"  Recover  !  Oh,  oui,  monsieur,  he  soon  got  well  again." 

"  Oh,  I'm  so  glad,"  cried  Charley. 

"  But  I  lost  him  for  that  voyage,"  added  the  guide ; 
"  and  I  lost  my  tabac  for  ever  !" 

"You  must  take  better  care  of  it  this  time,  Louis," 
said  I'eter  Mactavish,  as  he  resumed  his  work. 

"That  I  shall,  monsieur,"  replied  Louis,  shouldering 
his  goods  and  quitting  the  store,  while  a  short,  slim, 
active,  little  Canadian  took  his  place. 

"Now  then,   Baptiate,"  said  Mactavish,    "you  want 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTIL 


81 


"  Blanket,  monsieur." 

"Good.     And " 

"A  capote,  monsieur !" 

"And '' 

"An  axe " 


"  Stop,  stop  !"  shouted  Harry  Somerville  from  his  desk. 
"  Here's  an  entry  in  Louis's  account  that  I  can't  make 
out — 30  something  or  other — what  can  it  have  been  1" 

"  How  often,"  said  Mactavish,  going  up  to  him  with  a 
look  of  annoyance, — "  how  often  have  I  told  you,  Mr 
Somerville,  not  to  leave  an  entry  half-finished  on  any 
account  ?" 

"  I  didn't  know  that  I  left  it  so,"  said  Harry,  twisting 
his  features,  and  scratching  his  head  in  great  perplexity. 
"What  can  it  have  been,  30 — 30 — not  blankets,  eh?" 
(Harry  was  becoming  banteringly  bitter).  "  He  couldn't 
liave  got  thirty  guns,  could  he?  or  thirty  knives,  or 
thirty  copper  kettles  ?" 

"Perhaps  it  was  thirty  pounds  of  tea,"  suggested 
Charley. 

"  No  doubt  it  was  thirty  pipes,^^  said  Peter  Mactavish. 

"  Oh,  that  was  it !"  cried  Harry,  "  that  was  it !  thirty 
pipes  to  be  sure — what  an  ass  I  am  !" 

"And  pray  what  is  that?"  said  Mactavish,  pointing 
sarcastically  to  an  entry  in  the  previous  account — "5  yards 
of  superfine  Annettef  Really,  Mr  Somerville,  I  wish  you 
would  pay  more  attention  to  your  work  and  less  to 
the  conversation." 

"  Oh  dear !"  cried  Harry,  becoming  almost  hysterical 
under  the  combined  effects  of  chagrin  at  making  so  many 
mistakes,  and  suppressed  merriment  at  the  idea  of  selling 
Annettes  by  the  yard.    "  Oh,  dear  me  ! " 


/  I 


82 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Harry  could  say  no  more,  but  stuffed  Lis  liaudkerchi'  f 
into  hia  mouth  and  turned  away. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  offended  Peter,  "  when  you  have 
laughed  to  your  entire  satisfaction,  we  will  go  on  with 
our  work,  if  you  please." 

"  All  right,"  cried  Harry,  suppressing  his  feelings  with 
a  strong  effort,  "  what  next  ?" 

Just  then  a  tall,  raw-boned  man  entered  the  store,  and 
rudely  thrusting  Baptiste  aside,  asked  if  he  could  get 
his  supplies  now. 

"No,"  said  Mactavish,  sharply;  "you'll  take  your 
turn  like  the  rest." 

The  new-comer  was  a  native  of  Orkney,  a  country 
from  which,'  and  the  neighbouring  islands,  the  Fur 
Company  almost  exclusively  recruits  its  staff  of  labourers. 
These  men  are  steady,  useful  servants,  although  inclined 
to  be  slow  and  lazy  at  first ;  but  they  soon  get  used  to  the 
country,  and  rapidly  improve  under  the  example  of  the 
active  Canadians  and  half-breeds  with  whom  they  as- 
sociate ;  some  of  them  are  the  best  servants  the  Company 
possess.  Hugh  Matliison,  however,  was  a  very  bad 
specimen  of  the  race,  being  rough  and  coarse  in  his 
manners,  and  very  lazy  withal.  Upon  receiving  the 
trader's  answer,  Hugh  turned  sulkily  on  his  heel  and 
strode  towards  the  door.  Now,  it  happened  that  Baptiste's 
bundle  lay  just  behind  him,  and,  on  turning  to  leave  the 
place,  he  tripped  over  it  and  stumbled,  whereat  the 
voyageurs  buret  into  an  ironical  laugh  (for  Hugh  was  not 
a  favourite.) 

"Confound  your  trash!"  he   cried,  giving  the  little 
bundle  a  kick  that  scattered  everytliing  over  the  floor. 

"Crapaud!"  said  Baptiste,  between  his  set  teeth,  while 


raOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


83 


hia  eyes  flashed  angrily,  and  he  stood  up  before  Hugh 
with  clenched  fists,  "  what  mean  you  by  that  1  eh  ?" 

The  Lig  Scotchman  held  his  little  opponent  in  con- 
tempt, so  that,  instead  of  putting  himself  on  the  de- 
fensive, he  leaned  his  back  against  the  door,  thrust  his 
hands  into  his  pockets,  and  requested  to  know  "what 
that  was  to  him." 

Baptiste  was  not  a  man  of  many  words,  and  this  reply, 
coupled  with  the  insolent  sneer  with  which  it  was  uttered, 
caused  him  to  plant  a  sudden  and  well-directed  blow 
on  the  point  of  Hugh's  nose,  which  flattened  it  on  his 
face,  and  brought  the  back  of  his  head  into  violent 
contact  with  the  door. 

"Well  done!"  shouted  the  men;  "bravo,  Baptiste! 
regardez  le  nez,  mes  enfans  ! " 

"Hold!"  cried  Mactavish,  vaulting  the  counter,  and 
intercepting  Hugh  as  he  rushed  upon  his  antagonist ;  "  no 
fighting  here,  you  blackguards !  If  you  want  to  do  that, 
go  outside  the  fort ;"  and  Peter,  opening  the  door,  thrust 
the  Orkneyman  out. 

In  the  meantime,  Baptiste  gathered  up  his  goocls  and 
left  the  store,  in  company  with  several  of  liis  friends, 
vowing  that  he  would  wreak  his  vengeance  on  the  "  gros 
chien"  before  the  sun  should  set. 

He  had  not  long  to  wait,  however,  for,  just  outside  the 
gate,  he  found  Hugh,  still  smarting  under  the  pain  and 
indignity  of  the  blow,  and  ready  to  pounce  upon  him  like 
a  cat  on  a  mouse. 

Baptiste  instantly  threw  down  his  bundle  and  prepared 
for  battle  by  discarding  his  coat. 

Every  nation  has  its  own  peculiar  method  of  fighting, 
and  its  own  ideas  of  what  is  honourable  and  dislionouj-- 


<  \ 


84 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


able  in  combat.  The  English,  as  every  one  knoAvs,  have 
particnlai'ly  stringent  rules  regarding  the  part  of  the  body 
which  may  or  may  not  be  hit  with  propriety,  and  count 
it  foul  disgi"ace  to  strike  a  man  when  he  is  down  ;  altho\igh, 
by  some  strange  perversity  of  reasoning,  they  deem  it 
right  and  fair  to  fall  upon  him  while  in  this  helpless  con- 
dition, and  burst  him  if  possible.  The  Scotchman  has 
less  of  the  science,  and  we  are  half  inclined  to  believe 
that  he  would  go  the  length  of  kicking  a  fallen  opponent; 
but  on  this  point  we  are  not  quite  positive.  In  regard 
to  the  style  adopted  by  the  half-breeds,  however,  we  have 
no  doubt.  They  fight  avy  way  and  evei^j  way,  without 
reference  to  rules  at  all ;  and,  really,  although  we  may 
bring  ourselves'  into  contempt  by  admitting  the  fact,  we 
think  they  are  quite  right.  No  doubt  the  best  course  of 
action  is  not  to  fight ;  but,  if  a  man  does  find  it  necessary 
to  do  so,  surely  the  wisest  plan  is  to  get  it  over  at  once 
(as  the  dentist  suggested  to  his  timorcus  patient),  and  to 
do  it  in  the  most  efiectual  manner. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  Baptiste  flew  at  Hugh  and  alighted 
upon  him,  not  head  first,  or  fist  first,  or  feet  first,  or  any- 
thing  first,  but  altogether — in  a  heap,  as  it  were ;  fist,  feet, 
knees,  nails,  and  teeth,  all  taking  efiect  at  one  and  the  same 
time,  with  a  force  so  irresistible  that  the  next  moment 
they  both  rolled  in  the  dust  together. 

For  a  minute  or  so  they  stniggled  and  kicked  like 
a  couple  of  serpents,  and  then,  bounding  to  their  feet 
again,  they  began  to  perform  a  war-dance  round  each 
other,  revolving  their  fists  at  the  same  time  in,  we  pre- 
sume, the  most  approved  fashion.  Owing  to  his  bulk  and 
natural  laziness,  which  rendered  jumping  about  like  a 
jack-in-the-box  impossible,  Hugh  Mathison  preferred  to 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


aa 


stand  on  the  defensive  ;  while  his  lighter  opponent,  giving 
way  to  the  natural  bent  of  his  mercurial  temperament 
and  corporeal  predilections,  comported  himself  in  a  manner 
that  cannot  be  likened  to  anything  mortal  or  immortal, 
human  or  inhuman,  unless  it  be  to  an  insane  cat,  whoso 
veins  ran  wild-fire  instead  of  blood.  Or,  perhaps,  we 
might  liken  him  to  that  ingenious  piece  of  firework  called 
a  zigzag  cracker,  which  explodes  with  unexpected  and 
repeated  suddenness,  changing  its  position  in  a  most  per- 
plexing manner  at  every  crack.  Baptiste,  after  the  first 
onset,  danced  backwards  with  surprising  lightness,  glaring 
at  his  adversary  the  while,  and  rapidly  revolving  his  fists 
as  before  mentioned ;  then,  a  terrific  yell  was  heard ;  liis 
head,  arms,  and  legs  became  a  sort  of  whirling  conglome- 
rate j  the  spot  on  which  he  danced  was  suddenly  vacant, 
and,  at  the  same  moment,  Mathison  received  a  bite,  a 
scratch,  a  dab  on  the  nose,  and  a  kick  in  the  stomach  all 
at  once.  Feeling  that  it  was  impossible  to  plant  a  well 
directed  blow  on  such  an  assailant,  he  waited  for  the  next 
onslaught ;  and  the  moment  he  saw  the  explosive  object 
fljdng  through  the  air  towards  him,  he  met  it  with  a 
crack  of  his  heavy  fist,  which,  happening  to  take  effect  in 
the  middle  of  the  chest,  drove  it  backwards  with  about  as 
much  velocity  as  it  had  approached,  and  poor  Baptiste 
measured  his  length  on  the  ground. 

"Oh  pauvre  chien  !'*  cried  the  spectators,  "c'est  fini  ! " 
"  Not  yet,"  cried  Baptiste,  as  he  spmng  with  a  scream 
to  his  feet  again,  and  began  his  dance  with  redoubled 
energy,  just  as  if  all  that  had  gone  before  was  a  mere 
sketch — a  sort  of  playful  rehearsal,  as  it  were,  of  what  was 
now  to  follow.  At  this  moment  Hugh  stumbled  over  a 
canoe-paddle  and  fell  headlong  into  Baptiste's  arms,  as  ho 


B9 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SL'NDEAMS 


was  in  the  very  act  of  making  one  of  his  violent  descents. 
This  unlooked-for  occurrence  brought  them  both  to  a 
sudden  pause,  partly  from  necessity  and  partly  from  sur- 
priHe.  Out  of  this  state  Baptiste  recovered  first,  and, 
taking  advantage  of  the  accident,  threw  Mathison  heavily 
to  the  ground.  He  rose  quickly,  however,  and  renewed 
the  fight  with  freshened  vigour. 

Just  at  this  moment  a  passionate  growl  was  heard,  and 
old  Mr  Kennedy  rushed  out  of  the  fort  in  a  towering 


rago. 


Now,  Mr  Kennedy  had  no  reason  whatever  for  being 
angiy.  He  was  only  a  visitor  at  the  fort,  and  so  had  no 
concern  in  the  behaviour  of  those  connected  with  it.  He 
was  not  even  dn  the  Company's  service  now,  and  could 
not,  therefore,  lay  claim,  as  one  of  its  officers,  to  any  right 
to  interfere  with  its  men.  But  Mr  Kennedy  never  acted 
miich  from  reason  ;  impulse  was  generally  his  guiding 
star.  He  had,  moreover,  been  an  absolute  monarch,  and 
a  commander  of  men,  for  many  years  past  in  his  capacity 
of  fur-trader.  Being,  as  we  have  said,  a  powerful,  fiery 
man,  he  had  ruled  very  much  by  means  of  brute  force, — a 
species  of  suasion,  by  the  way,  which  is  too  common 
among  many  of  the  gentlemen  (?)  in  the  employment  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  On  hearing,  therefore,  that 
the  men  were  fighting  in  front  of  the  fort,  Mr  Kennedy 
rushed  out  in  a  towering  rage. 

"  Oh,  you  precious  blackguards  ! "  he  cried,  running  up 
to  the  combatants,  while  with  flashing  eyes  he  gazed  first 
at  one  and  then  at  the  other,  as  if  uncertain  on  which  to 
launch  his  ire.  "  Have  you  no  place  in  the  world  to  fight 
but  Jiere  f     Eh  !  blackguards  ? " 

"  Oh,  monsieur,"  said  Baptiste,  lowering  his  hands,  and 


FHOM  THE  PAR  NORTO. 


87 


assuming  that  politoncss  of  demeanour  which  seems  inse- 
parable from  French  blood,  however  much  mixed  with 
baser  fluid,  "  I  waa  just  giving  that  dog  a  thrashing, 
monsieur." 

"  Go  ! "  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  turn- 
ing to  Hugh,  who  still  stood  in  a  pugilistic  attitude,  with 
very  little  respect  in  his  looks. 

Hugh  hesitated  to  obey  the  order,  but  Mr  Kennedy 
continued  to  advance,  grinding  his  teeth  and  working  his 
fingera  convulsively,  as  if  he  longed  to  lay  violent  hold 
of  the  Orkneyman's  swelled  nose ;  so  he  retreated  in  his 
uncertainty,  but  still  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  As  has 
been  already  said,  the  Assinaboine  river  flows  within  a 
hundred  yards  of  the  gate  of  Fort  Garry.  The  two  men, 
in  their  combat,  had  approached  pretty  near  to  the  bank, 
at  a  place  where  it  descends  somewhat  precipitately  into 
the  stream.  It  was  towards  this  bank  that  Hugh  Mathi- 
son  was  now  retreating,  crab  fashion,  followed  by  Mr 
Kennedy,  and  both  of  them  so  taken  up  with  each  other 
that  neither  perceived  the  fact  until  Hugh's  heel  struck 
against  a  stone  just  at  the  moment  that  Mr  Kennedy 
raised  his  clenched  fist  in  a  threatening  attitude.  The 
efiect  of  this  combination  was  to  pitch  the  poor  man  head 
over  heels  down  the  bank,  into  a  row  of  willow  bushes, 
through  which,  as  he  rolled  with  great  speed,  he  went 
with  a  loud  crash,  and  shot  head  fii-st,  like  a  startled  alli- 
gator, into  the  water,  amid  a  roar  of  laughter  from  his 
comrades  and  the  people  belonging  to  the  fort  ;  most  of 
whom,  attracted  by  the  fight,  were  now  assembled  on  tiie 
banks  of  the  river. 

Mr  Kennedy's  wrath  vanished  immediately,  and  he 
joined  in  the  laughter;  but  his  face  instantly  changed 


88 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


■ 


when  he  beheld  Hugh  spluttering  in  deep  water,  and  heard 
some  one  say  that  he  could  not  swim. 

"  What !  can't  swim  ?"  he  exclaimed,  running  dovm  the 
bank  to  the  edge  of  the  water.  Baptiste  was  before  him, 
however.  In  a  moment  he  plunged  in  up  to  the  neck, 
stretched  forth  his  arm,  grasped  Hugh  by  the  hair,  and 
dragged  him  to  the  laud. 


1 
*  ,1 


<•  I 


( I 


'■  heard 


FHOM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


89 


una.  the 

0  him, 

neck, 

r,  and 


CHAPTER  VITL 


t 


Fa.-swell  to  Kate;  departure  of  the  brigade;  Charley  becomes  a  voyuycur. 

On  the  following  day  at  noon,  the  spot  on  which  the  lat« 
combat  had  taken  place  became  the  theatre  of  a  stirring 
and  animated  scene.     Fort  Garry,  and  the  space  between 
it  and  the  river,  swarmed  with  voyageurs,  dressed  in  their 
cleanest,  newest,  and  most  brilliant  costume.     The  large 
boats  for  the  north,  six  in  number,  lay  moored  to  the 
river's  bank,  laden  with  bales  of  furs,  and  ready  to  start 
on  their  long  voyage.     Young  men,  who  had  never  been 
on  the  route  before,  stood  with  animated  looks  watching 
the  operations  of  the  guides  as  they  passed  critical  ex- 
amination upon  their  boats,  overhauled  the  oars  to  see 
that  they  were  in  good  condition,  or  with  crooked  knives 
(a  species  of  instrument  in  the  use  of  which  voyagmrs 
and  natives  are  very  expert)  polished  off  the  top  of  a 
mast,  the  blade  of  an  oar,  or  the  handle  of  a  tiller.     Old 
men,  who  had  passed  their  lives  in  similar  occupations, 
looked  on  in  silence  ;  some  standing  with  their  hen  Is  bent 
on  their  bosoms,  and  an  expression  of  sadness  about  their 
faces,  as  if  the  scene  recalled  some  mournful  event  of  their 
early  life  ;   or  possibly  reminded  them  of  wild  joyous 
scenes  of  other  days,  when  the  blood  coursed  warmly  in 
their  young  veins,  and  the  strong  muscles  sprang  lightly 
to  obey  their  will ;  when  the  work  they  had  to  do  was 


90 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


i 


i 


i 

w 

I 

> 

1 
I 


/ 


hard,  and  the  sleep  that  followed  it  was  sound  : — scenes 
and  days  that  were  now  gone  by  for  ever.  Others  re- 
clined against  the  wooden  fence,  their  arms  crossed,  their 
thin  white  hair  waving  gently  in  the  breeze,  and  a  kind 
smile  playing  on  their  sunburnt  faces,  as  they  observed 
the  swagger  and  coxcombry  of  the  younger  men,  or 
watched  the  gambols  of  several  dark-eyed  little  children 
— embryo  buffalo-hunters  and  voyageurs — whose  mothers 
had  brought  them  to  the  fort  to  get  a  last  kiss  from  papa^ 
and  witness  the  departure  of  the  boats. 

Several  tender  scenes  were  going  on,  in  out-of-the-way 
places — in  angles  of  the  walls  and  bastions,  or  behind  the 
gates — between  youthful  couples  about  to  be  separated  for 
a  season.  Interesting  scenes  these  of  pathos  and  pleasantry 
— a  combination  of  soft  glances  and  affectionate,  fervent 
assurances — alternate  embraces  (that  were  apparently  re- 
ceived with  reluctance,  but  actually  with  delight),  and 
proffers  of  pieces  of  calico  and  beads  and  other  trinkets 
(received  both  apparently  and  actually  with  extreme  satis- 
faction), as  souvenirs  of  happy  days  that  were  past,  and 
pledges  of  unalterable  constancy  and  bright  hopes  in  days 
that  were  yet  to  come. 

A  little  apart  from  tht  others,  a  youth  and  a  girl  might 
be  seen  sauntering  slowly  towards  the  copse  beyond  the 
stable.  These  were  Charley  Kennedy  and  his  sister  Kate, 
who  had  retired  from  the  bustling  scene  to  take  a  last 
short  walk  together,  ei'e  they  separated,  it  might  be,  for 
years,  perhaps  for  ever !  Charley  held  Kate's  hand,  while 
her  sweet  little  head  rested  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Oh,  Charley,  Charley,  my  own  dear,  darling  Charley, 
I'm  quite  miserable,  and  you  ought  not  to  go  away ;  it's 
very  wrong,  and  I  don't  mind  a  bit  what  you  say — I  shall 


or 


J 


<-i 


1.1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


91 


die  if  you  leave  me  !"     And  Kate  pressed  him  tightly  to 
her  heart,  and  sobbed  in  the  depth  of  her  woe. 

"  Now,  Kate,  my  darling,  don't  go  on  so  !     You  know 
I  can't  help  it '*  '% 


(( 


I  don^t  know,"  cried  Kate,  inteiTupting  him,  and 
speaking  vehemently.  "  I  don't  know,  and  I  don't  be- 
lieve, and  I  don't  care  for  anything  at  all ;  it's  very  hard- 
hearted of  you,  and  wrong,  and  not  right,  and  I'm  just 
quite  wretched !" 

P^or  Kate  was  undoubtedly  speaking  the  absolute 
tnitn  j  for  a  more  disconsolate  and  wretched  look  of  woe- 
begone misery  was  never  seen  on  so  sweet  and  tender 
and  loveable  a  little  face  before.  Her  blue  eyes  swam  in 
two  lakes  of  pure  crystal,  that  overflowed  continually ; 
her  mouth,  which  was  usually  round,  had  become  an 
elongated  oval ;  and  her  nut-brown  hair  fell  in  dishevelled 
masses  over  her  soft  cheeks. 

"  Oh,  Charley,"  she  continued,  "  why  won't  you  stay  ?" 

"  Listen  to  me,  dearest  Kate,"  said  Charley,  in  a  very 
husky  voice.  "  It's  too  late  to  draw  back  now,  even  if  I 
wished  to  do  so;  and  you  don't  consider,  darling,  that 
I'll  be  back  again  soon.  Besides,  I'm  a  man  now,  Kate, 
and  I  must  make  my  own  bread.  Who  ever  heard  of  a 
man  being  supported  by  his  old  father  ?" 

"  Well,  but  you  can  do  that  here." 

"  Now,  don't  interrupt  me,  Kate,"  said  Charley,  kissing 
her  forehead ;  "  I'm  quite  satisfied  with  two  short  legs, 
and  have  no  desire  whatever  to  make  my  bread  on  the 
top  of  three  long  ones.  Besides,  you  know  I  can  write  to 
you ^" 

*•'  But  you  won't ;  you'll  forget." 

"  No,  indeed,  I  will  not.     I'll  write  you  long  letters 


I 


f 


{', 


I  . 


li 


92 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


about  all  that  I  see  and  do  j  and  you  shall  write  long 
letters  to  me  about " 

"  Stop,  Charley,"  cried  Kate ;  "  I  won't  listen  to  you. 
I  hate  to  think  of  it." 

And  her  tears  burst  forth  again  with  fresh  violence. 
This  time  Charley's  heart  sank  too.  The  lump  in  his 
throat  all  but  choked  him;  so  he  was  fain  to  lay  his 
head  upon  Kate's  heaving  bosom,  and  weep  along  with 
her. 

For  a  few  minutes  they  remained  silent,  when  a  slight 
rustling  in  the  bushes  was  heard.  In  another  moment  a 
tall,  broad-shouldered,  gentlemanly  man,  dressed  in  black, 
stood  before  them.  Charley  and  Kate,  on  seeing  this 
personage,  arose,  and,  wiping  the  tears  from  their  eyes, 
gave  a  sad  smile  as  they  shook  hands  with  their  clergyman. 

"  My  poor  children,"  said  Mr  Addison,  affectionately, 
"  I  know  well  why  your  hearts  are  sad.  May  God  bless 
and  comfort  you  !  I  saw  you  enter  the  wood,  and  came 
to  bid  you  farewell,  Charley,  my  dear  boy,  as  I  shall  not 
have  another  opportunity  of  doing  so." 

"  Oh,  dear  Mr  Addison,"  cried  Kate,  grasping  his  hand 
in  both  of  hers,  and  gazing  imploringly  up  at  him  through 
a  perfect  wilderness  of  ringlets  and  tears,  "  do  prevail 
upon  Charley  to  stay  at  home ;  please  do." 

Mr  Addison  could  scarcely  help  smiling  at  the  poor 
girl's  extreme  earnestness. 

"  I  fear,  my  sweet  child,  that  it  is  too  late  now  to  attempt 
to  dissuade  Charley.  Besides,  he  goes  with  the  consent 
of  his  father ;  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  a  change 
of  life  for  a  sfiort  time  may  do  liim  good.  Come,  Kate, 
cheer  up  !  Charley  will  return  to  us  again  ere  long, 
improved,  I  trust,  both  physically  and  mentally." 


I 


m 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


93 


Kate  did  7iot  cheer  up  j  but  she  dried  her  eyes  and 
endeavoured  to  look  more  composed,  while  Mr  Addison 
took  Charley  by  the  hand,  and,  as  they  walked  slowly 
through  the  wood,  gave  him  much  earnest  advice  and 
counsel. 

The  clergyman's  manner  was  peculiar.  With  a  large, 
warm,  generous  heart,  he  possessed  an  enthusiastic  nature, 
a  quick  brusque  manner,  and  a  loud  voice,  which,  when 
his  spirit  was  influenced  by  the  strong  emotions  of  pity, 
or  anxiety  for  the  souls  of  his  flock,  sunk  into  a  deep  soft 
bass  of  the  most  thrilling  earnestness.  He  belonged  to 
the  Church  of  England,  but  conducted  service  very  much 
in  the  Presbyterian  form,  as  being  more  suited  to  his 
mixed  congregation.  After  a  long  conversation  with 
Charley,  he  concluded  by  saying — 

"  I  do  not  care  to  say  much  to  you  about  being  kind 
and  obliging  to  all  whom  you  may  meet  with  during  your 
travels,  nor  about  the  dangers  to  which  you  will  be  ex- 
posed, by  being  thrown  into  the  company  of  wild  and 
reckless,  perhaps  very  wicked,  men.  There  is  but  one 
incentive  to  every  good,  and  one  safeguard  against  all 
evil,  my  boy,  and  that  is  the  love  of  God.  You  may, 
perhaps,  forget  much  that  I  have  said  to  you ;  but  re- 
member this,  Charley,  if  you  would  be  happy  in  this 
world,  and  have  a  good  hope  for  the  next,  centre  your 
heart's  affection  on  our  blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  for 
believe  me,  boy,  his  heart's  affection  is  centred  upon 
you." 

As  Mr  Addison  spoke,  a  loud  hallo  from  Mr  Kennedy 
apprised  them  that  their  time  was  exhausted,  and  that 
the  boats  were  ready  to  start.  Charley  sprang  towards 
Kate,  locked  her  in  a  long,  passionate  embrace,  and  then, 


r  I 


94 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


\ 


.'1 


t 


1 


I 


forgetting  Mr  Addison  altogether  in  his  haste,  ran  out  of 
the  wood,  and  hastened  towards  the  scene  of  departure. 

"  Good  bye,  Charley ! "  cried  Harry  Somerville,  mnning 
up  to  his  friend,  and  giving  him  a  warm  grasp  of  the  liand. 
"  Don't  forget  mo,  Charley.  I  wish  I  were  going  with 
you,  with  all  my  heart ;  but  I'm  an  unlucky  dog — good 
bye."  The  senior  clerk  and  Peter  Mactavish  had  also  a 
kindly  word  and  a  cheerful  farewell  for  him  as  he  hurried 
past. 

"  Good  bye,  Charley,  my  lad  ! "  said  old  Mr  Kennedy, 
iu  an  excessivelij  loud  voice,  as  if  by  such  means  he  in- 
tended to  crush  back  some  unusual,  but  very  powerful, 
feelings  that  had  a  peculiar  influence  on  a  certain  lump 
in  his  throat.     "  Good  bye,  my  lad ;  don't  forget  to  write 

to  your  old .     Hang  it ! "  said  the  old  man,  brushing 

his  coat -sleeve  somewhat  violently  across  his  eyes,  and 
turning  abruptly  round  as  Charley  left  him  and  sprang 

into  the  boat.    "  I  say.  Grant,  I — I .    "What  are  you 

staring  at  ? — eh  ? "  The  latter  part  of  his  speech  was 
addressed,  in  an  angry  tone,  to  an  innocent  voyageur,  who 
happened  accidently  to  confront  him  at  the  moment. 

"  Come  along,  Kennedy,"  said  Mr  Grant,  interposing ; 
and  grasping  his  excited  friend  by  the  arm — "Come 
with  me." 

"Ah,  to  be  sure! — yes!"  said  he,  looking  over  his 
shoulder  and  waving  a  last  adieu  to  Charley — "  Good  bye, 
God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy  !  I  say.  Grant,  come  along — 
quick,  man,  and  let's  have  a  pipe.  Yes;  let's  have  a 
pipe."  Mr  Kennedy,  essaying  once  more  to  crush  back 
his  rebellious  feelings,  strode  rapidly  up  the  bank,  and, 
entering  the  house,  sought  to  overwhelm  his  sorrow  in 
sraok3 :  in  which  attempt  he  failed. 


h  ■ 


FBOU  THE  FAB  NORTH. 


95 


CHAPTER  IX 


Tho  Voyage;  the  Encumpment ;  a  Surprise. 


It  was  a  fine  sight  to  see  the  boats  depart  for  the  North. 
It  was  a  thrilling  heart-stirring  sight  to  behold  these  pic- 
turesque athletic  men,  on  receiving  the  word  of  command 
from  their  guides,  spring  lightly  into  the  long,  heavy 
boats ;  to  see  them  let  the  oars  fall  into  the  water  with  a 
loud  splash ;  and  then,  taking  their  seats,  give  way  with 
a  will,  knowing  that  the  eyes  of  friends  and  sweethearts 
and  rivals  were  bent  earnestly  upon  them.  It  was  a 
splendid  sight  to  see  boat  after  boat  shoot  out  from  the 
landing-place,  and  cut  through  the  calm  bosom  of  the 
river,  as  the  men  bent  their  sturdy  backs,  until  the  thick 
oars  creaked  and  groaned  on  the  gunwales,  and  flashed  in 
the  stream,  more  and  more  vigorously  at  each  successive 
stroke,  until  their  friends  on  the  bank,  who  were  anxious 
to  see  the  last  of  them,  had  to  run  faster  and  faster,  in 
order  to  keep  up  with  them,  as  the  rowers  warmed  at  their 
work,  and  made  the  water  gurgle  at  the  bows — their 
bright  blue  and  scarlet  and  white  trappings  reflected  in 
the  dark  waters  in  broken  masses  of  colour,  streaked  with 
long  lines  of  shining  ripples,  as  if  they  floated  on  a  lake 
of  liquid  rainbows.  And  it  was  a  glorious  thing  to  hear 
the  wild,  plaintive  song,  led  by  one  clear,  sonorous  voice, 
that  rang  out,  full  and  strong,  in  the  still  air,  while,  at 


I 

I 

I 

it 


iif 


I 


96 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


the  close  of  every  two  lines,  the  whole  brigade  bui-st  into 
a  loud  enthusiastic  chonis,  that  i*olled  far  and  wide  over 
the  smooth  waters — telling  of  their  approach  to  settlers 
beyond  the  reach  of  vision  in  advance,  and  floating  faintly 
back,  a  laat  farewell,  to  the  listening  ears  of  fathers,  mothers, 
wives,  and  sisters  left  behind.  And  it  waa  interesting  to 
observe  how,  as  the  rushing  boats  sped  onwards  past  the 
cottages  on  shore,  groups  of  men  and  women  and  children 
stood  before  the  open  doors,  and  waved  adieu  ;  while, 
ever  and  anon,  a  solitary  voice  rang  louder  than  the  others 
in  the  chorus ;  and  a  pair  of  dark  eyes  grew  brighter,  as 
a  voyageur  swept  past  his  home,  and  recognised  his  little 
ones  screaming  farewell,  and  seeking  to  attract  their  siVe'a 
attention  by  tossing  their  chubby  arms,  or  flourishing 
round  their  heads  the  bright  vermilion  blades  of  canoe- 
paddles.  It  was  interesting,  too,  to  hear  the  men  shout 
as  they  ran  a  small  rapid  which  occurs  about  the  lower 
part  of  the  settlement,  and  dashed  in  fiiU  career  up  to 
the  Lower  Fort — ^which  stands  about  twenty  miles  down 
the  river  from  Fort  Garry — and  then  sped  onward  again 
with  unabated  energy,  until  they  passed  the  Indian  settle- 
ment, with  its  scattered  wooden  buildings  and  its  small 
church  j  passed  the  last  cottage  on  the  bank ;  passed  the 
low  swampy  land  at  the  river's  mouth  ;  and  emerged  at 
last,  as  evening  closed,  upon  the  wide,  calm,  sea-like 
bosom  of  Lake  Winipeg. 

Charley  saw  and  heard  all  this,  during  the  whole  of 
that  long,  exciting  afternoon ;  and,  as  he  heard  and  saw 
it,  his  heart  swelled  as  if  it  would  burst  its  prison-bars ; 
his  voice  rang  out  wildly  in  the  choruses,  regardless  alike 
of  tune  and  time,  and  his  spirit  boiled  within  him  as  he 
quafied  the  first  sweet  draught  of  a  rover's  life — a  life  in 


'/ 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


97 


as 


] 


\ 


in 


the  woods — the  wild,  free,  enchanting  woods,  where  all 
appeared  in  his  eyes  bright,  and  sunny,  and  gi-een,  and 
beautiful ! 

As  the  sun's  last  rays  sank  in  the  west,  and  the  clouds, 
losing  their  crimson  hue,  began  gradually  to  fade  into 
gray,  the  boats'  heads  were  turned  landward.  In  a  few 
seconds  they  grounded  on  a  low  point  covered  with  small 
trees  and  bushes,  which  stretched  out  into  the  lake. 
Here  Louis  Peltier  had  resolved  to  bivouac  for  the  night. 
"  Now  then,  mes  garqons"  he  exclaimed,  leaping  ashore, 
and  helping  to  drag  the  boat  a  little  way  on  to  the  beach  ; 
"  vite !  vite  I  a  terre  I  a  ierre !  Take  the  kettle,  Pierre,  and 
let's  have  supper." 

Pierre  needed  no  second  bidding.  He  grasped  a  large 
tin  kettle  and  an  axe,  with  which  he  hurried  into  a  clump 
of  trees.  Laying  down  the  kettle,  which  he  had  pre- 
viously filled  with  water  from  the  lake,  he  singled  out 
a  dead  tree,  and  with  three  powerful  blows  of  his  axe 
brought  it  to  the  ground.  A  few  additional  strokes  cut 
it  up  into  logs,  varying  from  three  to  five  feet  in  length, 
which  he  piled  together,  first  placing  a  small  bundle 
of  dry  grass  and  twigs  beneath  them,  and  a  few  splinters 
of  wood  which  he  cut  from  off  one  of  the  logs.  Having 
accomplished  this,  Pierre  took  a  flint  and  steel  out  of 
a  gaily  ornamented  pouch,  which  depended  from  his 
waist,  and  which  went  by  the  name  of  a  Jire-bag,  in  con- 
sequence of  its  containing  the  implements  for  procuring 
that  element.  It  might  have  been  as  appropriately  named 
tobacco-bog  or  smoking-bag,  however,  seeing  that  such 
things  had  more  to  do  with  it,  if  possible,  than  fire. 
Having  struck  a  spark,  which  he  took  captive  by  means 
of  a  piece  of  tinder,  he  placed  it  in  the  centre  of  a  very 


98 


8NOWFLAKE8  AND  SUNBEAMS 


# 


dry  handful  of  soft  grass,  and  whirled  it  rapidly  round 
his  head,  thereby  producing  a  current  of  air,  which  blew 
the  spark  into  a  flame  ;  which,  when  applied,  lighted  the 
grass  and  twigs  ;  and  so,  in  a  few  minutes,  a  blazing  fire 
roared  up  among  the  trees — spouted  volumes  of  sparks 
into  the  air,  like  a  gigantic  squib,  which  made  it  quite 
a  marvel  that  all  the  bushes  in  the  neighbourhood  were 
not  burnt  up  at  once — glared  out  red  and  fierce  upon  the 
rippling  water,  until  it  became,  as  it  were,  red-hot  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  boats ;  and  caused  the  night  to 
become  suddenly  darker  by  conti-ast  j  the  night  re- 
ciprocating the  compliment,  as  it  grew  later,  by  causing 
the  space  around  the  fire  to  glow  brighter  and  brighter, 
until  it  became  a  brilliant  chamber,  surrounded  by  walls 
of  the  blackest  ebony. 

While  Pierre  was  thus  engaged,  there  were  at  least  ten 
voyageurs  similarly  occupied.  Ten  steels  were  made 
instrumental  in  creating  ten  sparks,  which  were  severally 
captured  by  ten  pieces  of  tinder,  and  whirled  round 
by  ten  lusty  arms,  until  ten  flames  were  produced,  and 
ten  fires  sprang  up  and  flared  wildly  on  the  busy  scene 
that  had  a  few  hours  before  been  so  calm,  so  solitary,  and 
so  peaceful,  bathed  in  the  soft  beams  of  the  setting  sun. 

In  less  than  half-an-hour  the  several  camps  were  com- 
pleted ;  the  kettles  boiling  over  the  fires ;  the  men 
smoking  in  every  variety  of  attitude,  and  talking  loudly. 
It  was  a  cheerful  scene  j  and  so  Charley  thought,  as  he 
reclined  in  his  canvas  tent,  the  opening  of  which  faced 
the  fire,  and  enabled  him  to  see  all  that  was  going  on. 

Pierre  was  standing  over  the  great  kettle,  dancing 
round  it,  and  making  sudden  plunges  with  a  stick  into  it, 
in  the  desperate  efibrt  to  stir  its  boiling  contents — 


It . 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


99 


desperate,  because  the  fire  was  very  fierce  and  largo, 
and  the  flames  seemed  to  take  a  fiendish  pleasure  in 
leaping  up  suddenly  just  under  Pierre's  nose,  thereby 
endangering  his  beard,  or  shooting  out  between  his  legs, 
and  licking  round  them  at  most  unexpected  moments, 
when  the  light  wind  ought  to  have  been  blowing  them 
quite  in  the  opposite  direction ;  and  then,  as  he  danced 
round  to  the  other  side  to  avoid  them,  wheeling  about 
and  roaring  viciously  in  his  face,  until  it  seemed  as  if  the 
poor  man  would  be  roasted  long  before  the  supper  was 
boiled.  Indeed,  whau  between  the  ever-changing  and 
violent  flames,  the  rolling  smoke,  the  steam  from  the 
kettle,  the  showering  sparks,  and  the  man's  own  wild 
grimaces  and  violent  antics,  Pierre  seemed  to  Charley 
like  a  raging  demon,  who  danced  not  only  round,  but 
above,  and  on,  and  through,  and  in  the  flames,  as  if 
they  were  his  natural  element,  in  which  he  took  special 
delight. 

Quite  close  to  the  tent,  the  massive  form  of  Louis  the 
guide  lay  extended,  his  back  supported  by  the  stump  of 
a  tree ;  his  eyes  blinking  sleepily  at  the  blaze,  and  his 
beloved  pipe  hanging  from  his  lips,  while  wreaths  of 
smoke  encircled  his  head.  Louis's  day's  work  was  done. 
Few  could  do  a  better ;  and,  when  his  work  was  over, 
Louis  always  acted  on  the  belief  that  his  position  and  his 
years  entitled  him  to  rest,  and  took  things  very  easy 
in  consequence. 

Six  of  the  boat's  crew  sat  in  a  semicircle  beside  the 
guide  and  fronting  the  fire,  each  paying  particular  at- 
tention to  his  pijie,  and  talking  between  the  pufis  to  any 
one  who  chose  to  listen. 

Suddenly  Pierre  vanished  into  the  smoke  and  flames 


/  f 


100 


8NOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


^«.- 


altogother,  wlioiico,  in  uuotlicr  niomcut,  ho  issuoil,  bour- 
iiig  iu  his  hand  tho  largo  tin  kotUo,  whioh  ho  dopositod 
triumphantly  at  the  foot  of  his  couiradea. 

"  Now  then,"  oriod  Piorro. 

It  waa  unnoccsaary  to  liavo  said  ovon  tliat  much  by 
way  of  invitation.  Voyageurs  do  not  require  to  have 
tlioir  food  pressed  upon  thorn  after  a  hard  day's  work. 
Indeed  it  was  as  much  as  thoy  could  do  to  rofmin  from 
laying  violent  hands  on  tho  kettle  long  before  their 
v'orthy  cook  considered  its  contents  sufficiently  done. 

Charley  sat  in  company  with  Mr  Park, — a  chief  factor, 
on  his  way  to  Norway  House.  Gibault,  one  of  the  men 
who  acted  as  their  servant,  had  placed  a  kettle  of  hot  tea 
before  theih,  which,  vni\\  several  slices  of  buffalo  tongue, 
a  lump  of  pemican,  and  some  hard  biscuit  and  butter, 
formed  their  evening  meal.  Indeed,  we  may  add  that 
these  viands,  during  a  great  part  of  the  voyage,  consti- 
tuted their  every  meal.  In  fact,  they  had  no  variety  in 
their  fare,  except  a  wild  duck  or  two  now  and  theiij  and 
a  goose  when  they  chanced  to  shoot  one. 

Charley  sipped  a  pannikin  of  tea  as  he  i-eclined  on  his 
blanket,  and,  being  somewhat  fatigued  in  consequence  of 
his  exertions  and  excitement  during  the  day,  said  nothing. 
Mr  Park  for  the  same  reasons,  besides  being  naturally 
taciturn,  was  equally  mute,  so  they  both  enjoyed  in 
silence  the  spectacle  of  the  men  eating  their  supper. 
A.nd  it  was  a  sight  worth  seeing. 

Their  food  consisted  of  robbiboo,  a  compound  of  flour, 
pemioan,  and  water,  boiled  to  the  consistency  of  very  thick 
soup.  Though  not  a  species  of  food  that  would  satisfy 
the  fastidious  taste  of  an  epicure,  robbiboo  is,  neverthe- 
less, very  wholesome,  exceedingly  nutritious,  and,  withal. 


PROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


m 


palatable.  Pomican,  i^a  princiiml  oomponent,  is  made  of 
bufiUlo  flosh,  which  fully  ocpials  (mtiw  think  greatly 
excels)  beef.  The  recipe  for  /iiuking  it  18  aa  follows  : — 
First,  kill  your  buffalo — a  matter  of  cousiderablo  difli- 
culty,  by  the  way,  as  doing  so  requires  you  to  travel  to 
the  buffalo  grounds,  to  arm  yourself  with  a  gun,  and 
mount  a  horse,  on  which  you  have  to  gallop,  perhaps, 
several  miles  over  rough  ground  and  among  badger-holes, 
at  the  imminent  risk  of  breaking  your  neck.  Then  you 
have  to  run  up  alongside  of  a  buffalo  and  put  a  ball 
through  his  heart,  which,  apart  from  the  murderous  nature 
of  the  action,  is  a  diflBcult  thing  to  do.  But  we  will  sup- 
pose that  you  have  killed  your  buffalo.  Then  you  must 
skin  him  ;  then  cut  him  up,  and  slice  the  flesh  into  layers, 
which  must  be  dried  in  the  sun.  At  this  stage  of  the 
process,  you  have  produced  a  substance  which,  in  the  fur 
countries,  goes  by  the  name  of  dried-meat,  and  is  largely 
used  as  an  article  of  food.  As  its  name  implies,  it  is  very 
dry,  and  it  is  also  very  tough,  and  very  undesirable  if 
one  can  manage  to  procure  anything  better.  But,  to 
proceed.  Having  thus  prepared  dried-meat,  lay  a  quan- 
tity of  it  on  a  flat  stone,  and  take  another  itone,  with 
which  pound  it  into  shreds.  You  must  t  jii  take  the 
animal's  hide,  while  it  is  yet  new,  and  make  bags  of  it 
about  two  feet  and  a  half  long,  by  a  foot  and  a  half 
broad.  Into  tliis  put  the  pounded  meat  loosely.  Melt 
the  fat  of  your  buffalo  over  a  fire,  and,  when  quite 
liqmd,  pour  it  into  the  bag  until  full ;  mix  the  contents 
well  together ;  sew  the  whole  up  before  it  cools,  and  you 
have  a  bag  of  pemican  of  about  ninety  pounds'  weight. 
This  forms  the  chief  food  of  the  vo7/ageur,  in  consequence 
of  its  being  the  largest  possible  quantity  of  sustenance 


I 


i 


I  H 


102 


SNOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


compressed  into  the  smallest  possible  space,  and  in  an  ex- 
tremely convenient,  portable  shape.  It  will  keep  fresh 
for  years,  and  has  been  much  used,  in  consequence,  by  the 
heroes  of  arctic  discovery,  in  their  perilous  journeys  along 
the  shores  of  the  frozen  sea. 

The  voyageurs  used  no  plates.  Men  who  travel  in 
these  countries  become  independent  of  many  things  that 
are  supposed  to  be  necessary  here.  They  sat  in  a  circle 
round  the  kettle ;  each  man  armed  with  a  large  wooden  or 
pewter  spoon,  with  which  he  ladled  the  robbiboo  down 
his  capacious  tliroat,  in  a  style  that  not  only  caused 
Charley  to  laugh,  but  afterwards  threw  him  into  a  deep 
reverie  on  the  povers  of  appetite  in  general,  and  the 
strength  of  voyageur  stomachs  in  particular. 

At  first  the  keen  edge  of  appetite  induced  the  men  to 
eat  in  silence  j  but,  as  the  contents  of  the  kettle  began 
to  get  low,  their  tongues  loosened,  and  at  last,  when  the 
kettles  were  emptied  and  the  pipes  filled,  fresh  logs 
thrown  on  the  fires,  and  their  limbs  stretched  out  around 
them,  the  babel  of  English,  French,  and  Indian  that  arose 
was  quite  overwhelming.  The  middle-aged  men  told  long 
stories  of  what  they  had  done ;  the  young  men  boasted  of 
what  they  meant  to  do ;  while  the  more  aged  smiled, 
nodded,  smoked  their  pipes,  put  in  a  word  or  two  as  oc- 
casion offered,  and  listened.  While  they  conversed,  the 
quick  ears  of  one  of  the  men  of  Charley's  camp  detected 
some  unusual  sound. 

"  Hist ! "  said  he,  turning  his  head  aside  slightly,  in  a 
listening  attitude,  while  his  comrades  suddenly  ceased 
their  noisy  laugh. 

"  Do  ducks  travnl  in  canoes  hereabouts  ? "  said  the 
man,  after  a  moment's  silence  ;  "  for,  if  not,  there's  some 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


103 


one  about  to  pay  us  a  visit.    I  would  wager  my  best  gun 
that  I  hear  the  stroke  of  paddles." 

"  If  your  ears  had  been  sharper,  Francois,  you  might 
have  heard  them  some  time  ago,"  said'  the  guide,  shaking 
the  aslies  out  of  his  pipe  and  refilling  it  for  the  third 
time. 

"Ah,  Louis,  I  do  not  pretend  to  such  shari>  ears  as 
you  possess,  nor  to  such  sharp  wit  either.  But  who  do 
you  think  can  be  (ti  route  so  late  ? " 

"  That  my  wit  does  not  enable  me  to  divine,"  said 
Louis;  "but  it  /ou  have  any  faith  in  the  sharpness 
of  your  eyes,  I  would  recommend  you  to  go  to  the 
beach  and  see,  as  the  best  and  shortest  way  of  finding 
out." 

By  this  time  the  m-en  had  risen  and  were  peering  out 
into  the  gloom  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound  came, 
while  one  or  two  sauntered  down  to  the  margin  of  the 
lake  to  meet  the  new-comers. 

"  Who  can  it  be,  I  wonder  ? "  said  Charley,  who  had 
left  the  tent,  and  was  now  standing  beside  the  guide. 

"  Difficult  to  say,  monsieur.  Perhaps  Injins ;  though 
I  thought  there  were  none  here  just  now.  But  I'm  not 
surprised  that  we've  attracted  something  to  us.  Livin' 
creeturs  always  come  nat'rally  to  the  light,  and  there's 
plenty  fire  on  the  point  to-night." 

"  Eather  more  than  enough,"  replied  Charley,  abruptly, 
as  a  slight  motion  of  wind  sent  the  flames  curling  round 
his  head  and  singed  off  his  eye-lashes.  "  Why,  Louis,  it's 
my  firm  belief  that  if  I  ever  get  to  the  end  of  this  journey, 
I'll  not  have  a  hair  left  on  my  head." 

Louis  smiled. 

"  Oh,  monsieur,  you  will  learn  to  ohserve  tilings  before 


.-'  I 


104 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


If 

M 

i 


'i 


you  have  been  long  in  the  wilderness.     If  you  will  edge 
round  to  leeward  of  the  fire,  you  can't  expect  it  to  respect 

you." 

Just  at  this  moment  a  loud  hurrah  rang  through  the 
copse,  and  Harry  Somerville  sprang  over  the  fire  into 
the  ai'ms  of  Charley,  who  received  him  with  a  hug  and 
a  look  of  unutterable  amazement. 

"  Charley,  my  boy  ! " 

"  Harry  Somerville,  I  declare  ! " 

For  at  least  five  minutes  Charley  could  not  recover  his 
composure  suflSciently  to  declare  anything  else,  but  stood 
with  open  mouth  and  eyes,  and  elevated  eyebrows,  look- 
ing at  his  young  friend,  who  capered  and  danced  round 
die  fire  in  a  manner  that  threw  the  cook's  performances 
in  that  lin^  quite  into  the  shade ;  while  he  continued  all 
the  time  to  shout  fragments  of  sentences  that  were  quite 
unintelligible  to  any  one.  It  was  evident  that  Harry 
was  in  a  state  of  immense  delight  at  something  unknown, 
save  to  himself,  but  which,  in  the  course  of  a  few  minutes, 
was  revealed  to  his  wondering  friends. 

"  Charley,  I'm  going !  hurrah ! "  and  he  leaped  about 
in  a  manner  that  induced  Charley  to  say,  he  would  not 
only  be  going  but  very  soon  gone,  if  he  did  not  keep 
further  away  from  the  fire. 

"  Yes,  Charley,  I'm  going  with  you  !  I  upset  the  stool ; 
tilted  the  ink-bottle  over  the  invoice  book ;  sent  the 
poker  almost  through  the  back  of  the  fire-place,  and 
smashed  Tom  Whyte's  best  whip  on  the  back  of  the  *  noo 
'oss'  as  I  galloped  him  over  the  plains  for  the  last  time — 
all  for  joy,  because  I'm  going  with  you,  Charley,  my 
darling !" 

Here  Harry  suddenly  threw  his  arms  round  his  friend's 


wmmmm 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


105 


neck  meditating  an  embrace.  As  both  boys  were  rather 
fond  of  using  their  muscles  violently,  the  embrace  degeno- 
I'ated  into  a  wrestle,  which  caused  them  to  threaten  com- 
plete destructioa  to  the  fire  as  they  staggered  in  front  of 
it,  and  ended  in  their  tumbling  against  the  tent  and 
nearly  breaking  its  poles  and  fastenings,  to  the  horror 
and  indignation  of  Mr  Park,  who  was  smoking  his  pipe 
within,  quietly  waiting  till  Harry's  superabundant  gleo 
was  over,  that  he  might  get  an  explanation  of  his  un- 
expected arrival  among  them. 

"  Ah !  they  will  be  good  voyageurSy^  cried  one  of  the 
men,  as  he  looked  on  at  this  scene. 

"  Oui  !  oui !  good  boys,  active  lads,"  replied  the  others, 
laughing.     The  two  boys  rose  hastily. 

"  Yes,"  cried  Harry,  breathless,  but  still  excited,  "  I'm 
going  all  the  way,  and  a  great  deal  farther.  I'm  going  to 
hunt  buffaloes  in  the  Saskatchewan,  and  grizzly  bears  in 
the  —  the  —  in  fact  everywhere  !  I'm  going  down  the 
Mackenzie  River — I'm  going  mad,  I  believe ;"  and  Harry 
gave  another  caper  and  another  shout,  and  tossed  his  cap 
high  into  the  air :  having  been  recklessly  tossed,  it 
came  down  into  the  fire : — ^when  it  went  in  it  was  dark 
blue,  but  when  Harry  dashed  into  the  flames,  in  con- 
sternation, to  save  it,  it  came  out  of  a  rich  brown  colour. 

"Now,  youngster,"  said  Mr  Park,  "when  yovi've  done 
capering  I  should  like  to  ask  you  one  or  two  questions. 
What  brought  you  hei*e  ?" 

"  A  canoe,"  said  Hariy,  inclined  to  be  impudent. 

"  Oh  !  and  pray,  for  what  purpose  have  you  come  here  ?" 

"  These  are  my  credentials,"  handing  him  a  letter. 

Mr  Park  opened  the  note  and  read. 

"  Ah  !  oh  !  Saskatchewan — hum — yes — outpost — ^wild 


I 


i 


I 


I 


106 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


boy — just  80 — ^keep  him  at  it — ay  !  fit  for  nothing  else. 
So,"  said  Mr  Park,  folding  the  paper,  "  I  find  that  Mr 
Grant  has  sent  you  to  take  the  place  of  a  young  gentle- 
man we  expected  to  pick  up  at  Norway  House,  but  who 
is  required  elsewhere ;  and  that  he  wiBhcis  you  to  see  a 
good  deal  of  rough  life — to  be  made  a  trader  of,  in  fact. 
Ta  that  your  desire  ?" 

"  That's  the  very  ticket !"  replied  Harry,  scarcely  able 
to  restrain  his  delight  at  the  prospect. 

"  "Well,  then,  you  had  better  get  supper  and  turn  in, 
for  you'll  have  to  begin  your  new  life  by  rising  at  three 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning.     Have  you  got  a  tent  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Harry,  pointing  to  his  canoe,  which  had 
been  brought  to  the  fire  and  turned  bottom  up  by  the 
two  Indians  to  whom  it  belonged,  and  who  were  reclining 
under  its  shelter  enjoying  their  pipes,  and  watching  with 
looks  of  great  gravity  the  doings  of  Harry  and  his  friend. 

"  That  will  return  whence  it  came  to-morrow.  Have 
vou  no  other  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Harry,  pointing  to  the  overhanging 
branches  of  a  willow  close  at  hand,  "  lots  more." 

Mr  Park  smiled  grimly,  and  turning  on  his  heel  re- 
entered the  tent  and  continued  his  pipe,  while  Harry 
flung  himself  down  beside  Charley  under  the  bark  canoe. 

This  species  of  "  tent"  is,  however,  by  no  means  a  per- 
fect one.  An  Indian  canoe  is  seldom  three  feet  broad — 
frequently  much  narrower — so  that  it  only  afibrds  shelter 
for  the  body  as  far  down  as  the  waist,  leaving  the 
extremities  exposed.  True,  one  may  double  up  as  nearly 
as  possible  into  half  one's  length,  but  this  is  not  a  desirable 
position  to  maintain  throughout  an  entire  night.  Some- 
times, when  the  weather  is  very  bad,  an  additional  pro- 


FROM  THE  FAB  NORTH. 


107 


tection  is  procured  by  leaning  several  poles  against  the 
bottom  of  the  canoe,  on  the  weather  side,  in  such  a  way  as 
to  slope  considerably  over  the  front ;  and  over  these  aro 
spread  pieces  of  birch  bark  or  branches  and  moss,  so  as  to 
form  a  screen,  which  is  an  admirable  shelter.  But  this 
involves  too  much  time  and  labour  to  be  adopted  during 
a  voyage,  and  is  only  done  when  the  travellers  are  under 
the  necessity  of  remaining  for  some  time  in  one  place. 

The  canoe  in  which  Harry  arrived  was  a  pretty  large 
one,  and  looked  so  comfortable  when  arranged  for  the 
night,  that  Charley  resolved  to  abandon  his  own  tent  and 
Mr  Pai'k's  society,  and  sleep  with  his  friend. 

"  I'll  sleep  with  you,  Harry,  my  boy,"  said  he,  after 
Harry  had  explained  to  him  in  detail  the  cause  of  his 
being  sent  away  from  Red  River;  which  was  no  other  than 
that  a  young  gentleman,  as  Mr  Park  said,  who  ivas  to 
have  gone,  had  been  ordered  elsewhere. 

"  That's  right,  Charley,  spread  out  our  blankets,  while 
I  get  some  supper,  like  a  good  fellow."  Harry  went  in 
search  of  the  kettle  while  his  friend  prepared  their  bed. 
First,  he  examined  the  ground  on  which  the  canoe  lay, 
and  found  that  the  two  Indians  had  already  taken  posses- 
sion of  the  only  level  places  under  it.  "  Humph  !"  he 
ejaculated,  half  inclined  to  rouse  them  up,  but  imme- 
diately dismissed  the  idea  as  unworthy  of  a  voijageur. 
Besides,  Charley  Wiis  an  amiable,  unselfish  fellow,  and 
would  rather  have  lain  on  the  top  of  a  dozen  stumps 
than  have  made  himself  comfortable  at  the  expense  of 
any  one  else. 

He  paused  a  moment  to  consider.  On  one  side 
was  a  hollow,  "that,"  (as  he  soliloquised  to  himself) 
"  would  break  the  back  of  a  buffalo."     On  the  other  side 


1 1  Si 


108 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


were  a  dozen  little  stumps  surrounding  three  very  pro- 
minent ones,  that  threatened  destruction  to  the  ribs  of 
any  one  who  should  venture  to  lie  there.  But  Charley 
did  not  pause  to  consider  long.  Seizing  his  axe,  he  laid 
about  him  vigorously  with  the  head  of  it,  and  in  a  few 
seconds  destroyed  all  the  stumps,  which  he  carefully  col- 
lected, and,  along  with  some  loose  moss  and  twigs,  put  into 
the  hollow,  and  so  filled  it  up.  Having  improved  things 
thus  fai',  he  rose  and  strode  out  of  the  circle  of  light  into 
the  wood.  In  a  few  minutes  he  re-appeared,  bearing  a 
young  spruce-fir  tree  on  his  shoulder,  which,  with  the  axe, 
he  stripped  of  its  branches.  These  branches  were  flat  in 
form,  and  elastic — admirably  adapted  for  making  a  bed 
on  ;  and  when  Charley  spread  them  out  under  the  canoe 
in  a  pile  of  about  four  inches  in  depth,  by  four  feet  broad, 
and  six  feet  long,  the  stumps  and  the  hollow  were  over- 
whelmed altogether.  He  then  ran  to  Mr  Park's  tent, 
and  fetched  thence  a  small  flat  bundle,  covered  with  oil- 
cloth, and  tied  with  a  rope.  Opening  this,  he  tossed  out 
its  contents,  vhich  were  two  large  and  very  thick  blankets 
— one  green,  the  other  white ;  a  particularly  minute 
feather  pillow,  a  pair  of  moccasins,  a  broken  comb,  and  a 
bit  of  soap.  Then  he  opened  a  similar  bundle,  containing 
Harry's  bed,  which  he  likewise  tossed  out ;  and  then 
kneeling  down,  he  spread  the  two  white  blankets  on  the 
top  of  the  branches,  the  two  green  blankets  above  these, 
and  the  two  pillows  at  the  top,  as  far  under  the  shelter  of 
the  canoe  as  he  could  push  them.  Having  comj/'cisd  the 
whole  in  a  manner  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a 
chambermaid,  he  continued  to  sit  on  his  knees,  with  his 
hands  in  his  pockets,  smiling  complacently,  and  saying, 
*'  capital — first-rate  ! " 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


109 


ree  very  pro- 
3  the  ribs  of 
But  Charley 
axe,  he  laid 
md  in  a  few 
carefully  col- 
vigs,  put  into 
)roved  things 
of  light  into 
;d,  bearing  a 
with  the  axe, 
were  flat  in 
iiaking  a  bed 
ier  the  canoe 
ir  feet  broad, 
(V  were  over- 
Park's  tent, 
■ed  with  oil- 
le  tossed  out 
lick  blankets 
arly  minute 
comb,  and  a 
containing 
and  then 
kets  on  the 
ibove  these, 
be  shelter  of 
mp'ctsd  the 
credit  to  a 
es,  with  his 
and  saying, 


1 
I 


'  Here  we  are,  Charley.     Have  a  second  supper — do  ! " 

Harry  placed  the  smoking  kettle  by  the  head  of  the 
bed  j  and  squatting  down  beside  it,  began  to  eat,  as  only 
a  boy  can  eat  who  has  had  nothing  since  breakfast. 

Charley  attacked  the  kettle  too — as  he  said,  "  out  of 
sympathy,"  although  he  "wasn't  hungry  a  bit."  And 
really,  for  a  man  who  was  not  hungry,  and  had  supped 
half-an-hour  before,  the  appetite  of  sympathy  was  wonder- 
fully strong. 

But  Harry's  powers  of  endurance  were  now  exhausted. 
He  had  spent  a  long  day  of  excessive  fatigue  and  excite- 
ment, and,  having  wound  it  up  with  a  heavy  supper, 
sleep  began  to  assail  him  with  a  fell  ferocity  that  nothing 
could  resist.  He  yawned  once  or  twice,  and  sat  on  the 
bed  blinking  unmeaningly  at  the  fire,  as  if  he  had  some- 
thing to  say  to  it,  which  he  could  not  recollect  just  then. 
He  nodded  violently,  much  to  his  own  surprise,  once  or 
twice,  and  began  to  address  remarks  to  the  kettle  instead 
of  to  his  friend.  "  I  say,  Charley,  this  won't  do.  I'm  off 
to  bed  !  "  and,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word,  he  took  oiF 
his  coat  and  placed  it  on  his  pillow.  He  then  removed 
his  moccasins,  which  were  wet,  and  put  on  a  dry  pair ; 
and  this  being  all  that  is  ever  done  in  the  way  of  prepara- 
tion before  going  to  bed  in  the  woods,  he  lay  down  and 
pulled  the  green  blankets  over  him. 

Before  doing  so,  however,  Harry  leant  his  head  on  his 
hands  and  prayed.  This  was  the  one  link  left  of  the 
chain  of  habit  with  which  he  had  left  home.  Until  the 
period  of  his  departure  for  the  wild  scenes  of  the  North- 
west, Harry  had  lived  in  a  quiet,  happy  home  in  the  "West 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  where  he  had  been  surrounded  by 
the  benign  influences  of  a  family,  the  members  of  which 


110 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


»• 


" 


were  united  by  the  sweet  bonds  of  Christian  love — bonds 
which  were  strengthened  by  the  additional  tie  of  amia- 
bility of  disposition.  From  childhood  he  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  the  routine  of  a  pious  and  well-regulated  house- 
liold,  where  the  Bible  was  perused  and  spoken  of  with  an 
interest  that  indicated  a  genuine  hungering  and  thirsting 
after  righteousness,  and  where  the  name  of  Jesus  sounded 
often  and  sweetly  on  the  ear.  Under  such  training,  Harry, 
though  naturally  of  a  wild,  volatile  disposition,  was  deeply 
and  in-esistibly  impressed  with  a  reverence  for  sacred 
things,  which,  now  that  he  was  thousands  of  miles  away 
from  his  peaceful  home,  clung  to  him  with  the  force  of 
old  habit  and  association,  despite  the  jeers  of  comrades, 
and  thte  e\dl  influences  and  ungodliness  by  which  he  was 
surrounded.  It  is  true  that  he  was  not  altogether  unhurt 
by  the  withering  indifference  to  God  that  he  beheld  on  all 
sides.  Deep  impression  is  not  renewal  of  heart.  But 
early  training  in  the  path  of  Christian  love  saved  him 
many  a  deadly  fall.  It  guarded  him  from  many  of  the 
grosser  sins  into  which  other  boys,  who  had  merely  broken 
away  from  the  restraints  of  home,  too  easily  fell.  It  twined 
round  him — as  the  ivy  encircles  the  oak — with  a  soft, 
tender,  but  powerful  grasp,  that  held  him  back  when  he 
was  tempted  to  dash  aside  all  restraint — and  held  him  up, 
when,  in  the  weakness  of  his  human  nature,  he  was  about 
to  fall.  It  exerted  its  benign  sway  over  him  in  the  silence 
of  night,  when  his  thoughts  reverted  to  home,  and  during 
his  waking  hours,  when  he  wandered  from  scene  to  scene 
in  the  wide  wilderness ;  and  in  after  years,  when  sin  pre- 
vailed, and  intercourse  with  rough  men  had  worn  off  much 
of  at  least  the  superficial  amiability  of  his  character,  and 
to  some  extent  blunted  the  finer  feelings  of  his  nature, 


1 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


Ill 


love — ^bonds 
tie  of  amia- 
l  been  accus- 
ilated  house- 
n  of  with  an 
tnd  thirsting 
ssus  sounded 
ning,  Harry, 
L,  was  deeply 
3  for  sacred 

miles  away 
the  force  of 
)f  comrades, 
hich  he  was 
>ther  unhurt 
•elield  on  all 
icart.      But 

saved  him 
lany  of  the 
rely  broken 
It  twined 
vith  a  soft, 
ck  when  he 
eld  him  up, 
3  was  about 
I  the  silence 
and  during 
ne  to  scene 
len  sin  pre- 
rn  off  much 
*acter,  and 
his  nature, 


it  clung  faintly  to  him  still,  in  the  memory  of  his  mother's 
gentle  look  and  tender  voice,  and  never  forsook  him  alto- 
gether. Home  had  a  blessed  and  powerful  ii.1uenco  on 
Harry.  May  God  bless  such  homes,  where  the  ruling 
l)Ower  is  love  I  G  od  bless  and  multiply  such  homes  in  the 
earth  !  "Were  there  more  of  them,  there  would  be  fewer 
heaiii-broken  mothei-s,  to  weep  over  the  memory  of  the 
blooming,  manly  boys  they  sent  away  to  foreign  climes 
— with  trembling  hearts,  but  high  hopes — and  never  saw 
them  more.  They  were  vessels  launched  upon  the  troubled 
sea  of  time,  with  stout  timbera,  firm  masts,  and  gallant 
sails — with  all  that  was  necessary  above  and  below,  from 
stem  to  stern,  for  battling  with  the  billows  of  advei-se 
foi-tune,  for  stemming  the  tide  of  opposition,  for  riding  the 
storms  of  persecution,  or  bounding  with  a  press  of  canvas 
before  the  gales  of  prosjierity  ;  but  without  the  rudder — 
without  the  guiding  principle  that  renders  the  great  power 
of  plank  and  sail  and  mast  available;  with  which  the  vessel 
moves  obedient  to  the  o-svner's  willj  without  which,  it 
diifts  about  with  every  current,  and  sails  along  with  every 
sliiffcing  wind  that  blows.  Yes ;  may  the  best  blessings  of 
prosperity  and  peace  rest  on  such  families,  whose  bread, 
cast  continually  on  the  waters,  returns  to  them  after  many 
days ! 

After  Harry  had  lain  down,  Charley,  who  did  not  feel 
inclined  for  repose,  sauntered  to  the  margin  of  the  lake, 
and  sat  down  upon  a  rock. 

It  was  a  beautiful  calm  evening.  The  moon  shone 
faintly  tlirough  a  mass  of  heavy  clouds,  casting  a  pale 
light  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Winipeg,  which  stretched, 
without  a  ripple,  out  to  the  distant  horizon.  The  great 
fresh-water  lakes  of  America  bear  a  stroncf  resemblance 


I 


' 


112 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


to  the  sea,  lu  storms  the  waves  rise  mountains  high, 
and  break  with  heavy  sullen  roar  upon  a  beach,  com- 
posed, in  many  places,  of  sand  and  pebbles ;  while  they 
are  so  large  that  one  not  only  looks  out  to  a  straight 
horizon,  but  may  even  sail  out  of  sight  of  land  altogether. 

As   Charley  sat  resting  his  head  on  his  hand,  and 
listening  to  the  soft  hiss  that  the  ripples  made  upon  the 
beach,  he  felt  all  the  solemnising  influence  that  steals 
irresistibly  over  the   mind   as  we   sit  on  a  still  night 
gazing  out  upon  the  moonlit  sea.     His  thoughts  were 
sad  ;  for  he  thought  of  Kate,  and  his  mother  and  Either, 
and  the  iiome  ho  was  now  leaving.     He  remembered  all 
that  he  had  ever  done  to  injure  or  annoy  the  dear  ones 
he  was  leaving ;  and  it  is  strange  how  much  alive  our 
consciences  become,  when  we  are  unexpectedly  or  sud- 
denly removed  from  those  with  whom  we  have  lived  and 
held  daily  intercourse.     How  bitterly  ^\ti  reproach  our- 
selves for  harsh  words,  unkind  actions ;  and  how  intensely 
we  long   for  one  word   more    with  them,  one  fervent 
embrace,  to  prove  at  once  that  all  we  have  ever  said  or 
done  was  not   meant  ill ;  and,   at  any  rate,  is  deeply, 
sincerely   repented   of  now !      As    Charley    looked    up 
into  the   starry  sky,  his  mind  recurred  to  the  parting 
words  of  Mr  Addison.     With  uplifted  hands  and  a  full 
heart,  he  prayed  that  God  would  bless,  for  Jesus'  sake, 
the  beloved  ones  in  Red   River,   but  especially  Kate ; 
for,  whether  hs  prayed  or  meditated,  Charley's  thoughts 
always  ended  with  Kate. 

A  black  cloud  passed  across  the  moon,  and  reminded 
him  that  but  a  few  hours  of  the  night  remained;  so, 
hastening  up  to  the  camp  again,  he  lay  gently  down 
beside  his  friend,  and  drew  the  green  blanket  over  him. 


!.f 


mOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


113 


ains  high, 
ach,  oom- 
'^hile  they 
a  straight 
together, 
land,  and 
upon  the 
lat  steals 
till  night 
fhts  were 
id  &t!ier, 
berf.d  all 
lear  ones 
ilive  our 
T  or  sud- 
feved  and 
•ach  oiir- 
intensely 
1  fervent 
'  said  or 
deeply, 
ked    up 
parting 
d  a  full 
sake, 
Kate ; 
ioughts 

oiinded 
ed;  so, 
down 
him. 


In  the  camp  all  was  silent.  The  men  had  chosen  their 
several  beds  according  to  fancy,  under  the  shadow  of 
a  bush  or  tree.  The  fires  had  burnt  low — so  low,  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  Charley  as  he  lay  could  discern  the 
recumbent  forms  of  the  men,  whose  presence  was  in- 
dicated by  the  deep,  soft,  regular  breathing  of  tired,  but 
healthy  constitutions.  Sometimes  a  stray  moonbeam  shot 
through  the  leaves  and  branches,  and  cast  a  ghost-liko, 
flickering  light  over  the  scene,  which  ever  and  anon  was 
rendered  more  mysterious  by  a  red  flare  of  the  fire  as  an 
ember  fell,  blazed  up  for  an  instant,  and  left  all  shrouded 
in  greater  darkness  than  before. 

At  first,  Charley  continued  his  sad  thoughts,  staring 
all  the  while  at  the  red  embere  of  the  expiring  fire ;  but 
soon  his  eyes  began  to  blink,  and  the  stumps  of  trees 
began  to  assume  the  form  of  voyageurs,  and  voyageurs 
to  look  like  stumps  of  trees.  Then  a  moonbeam  darted 
in,  and  Mr  Addison  stood  on  the  other  side  of  the  fire. 
At  this  sight  Charley  started,  and  Mr  Addison  dis- 
appeared, while  the  boy  smiled  to  think  how  he  had  been 
dreaming  while  only  half-asleep.  Then  Kate  appeared, 
and  seemed  to  smile  on  him  ;  but  another  ember  fell, 
and  another  red  flame  spi*ang  up,  and  put  her  to  flight 
too.  Then  a  low  sigh  of  wind  rustled  through  the 
branches,  and  Charley  felt  sure  that  he  saw  Kate  again 
coming  thi-ough  the  woods,  singing  the  low,  soft  tune  that 
she  was  so  fond  of  singing,  because  it  was  his  own 
favourite  air.  But  soon  the  air  ceased;  the  fire  faded 
away ;  so  did  the  trees,  and  the  sleeping  voyageurs  ',  Kate 
last  of  all  dissolved,  and  Charley  sank  into  a  deep, 
untroubled  slumber. 


114 


BNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBRAM4 


CHAPTER  X. 


[Vf 


VHrletles,  Vexations,  and  Vicissitudes. 

Life  is  chequered — there  is  no  doubt  about  that ;  what- 
ever doubts  a  man  may  entertain  upon  other  subjects,  he 
can  have  none  upon  thifj,  we  feel  quite  certain.  In  fact, 
80  true  is  it,  that  we  would  not  for  a  moment  have  drawn 
the  reader's  attention  to  it  here,  were  it  not  that 
our  experience  of  life  in  the  backwoods  corroborates  the 
truth — and  truth,  however  well  corroborated,  is  none  the 
worse  of  getting  a  little  additional  testimony  now  and 
then,  in  this  sceptical  generation. 

Life  is  chequered,  then,  undoubtedly.  And  life  in  the 
\)ackwoods  strengthens  the  proverb,  for  it  is  a  peculiarly 
striking  and  remarkable  specimen  of  life's  variegated 
character. 

There  is  a  difference  between  sailing  smoothly  along 
the  shores  of  Lake  Winipeg  with  favouring  breezes,  and 
being  tossed  on  its  surging  billows  by  the  howling  of 
a  nor'-west  wind,  that  threatens  destruction  to  the  boat, 
or  forces  it  to  seek  shelter  on  the  shore.  This  difference 
is  one  of  the  chequered  scenes  of  which  we  write,  and 
one  that  was  experienced  by  the  brigade  more  than  once, 
during  its  passage  across  the  lake. 

Since  we  are  dealing  in  truisims,  it  may  not,  perhaps, 
be  out  of  place  here  to  say,  that  going  to  bed  at  night  is 
not  by  any  means  getting  up  in  the  morning — at  least  so 
several  of  our  friends  found  to  be  the  case,  when  the  deep 


t;( 


FROM  THE  FAB  NORTH. 


110 


8onoroi]»  voice  of  Louis  Peltier  sounded  through  the  camp 
on  the  oUowing  morning,  just  as  a  very  faint,  scarcely 
perceptible,  light  tinged  the  eastern  sky. 

"  Ldve  !   leve  !    16ve  1"    he   cried,    "  10 ve  !   16 ve  !   moa 
enfans !" 

Some  of  Louis'  infants  replied  to  the  summons  in  a  way 
that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  harlequin.  One  or  two 
active  little  Canadians,  on  hearing  the  cry  of  the  awful 
word,  leve,  rose  to  their  feet  with  a  quick  bound,  as  if 
they  had  been  keeping  up  an  appeai'anco  of  sleep  as  a 
sort  of  practical  joke  all  night,  on  purpose  to  be  ready  to 
leap  as  the  fii-st  sound  fell  from  the  guide's  lips.  Others 
lay  still,  in  the  same  attitude  in  which  they  had  fallen 
asleep,  having  made  up  their  minds,  apparently,  to  lie 
there  in  spite  of  all  the  guides  in  the  world.  Not  a  few 
got  slowly  into  the  sitting  position,  their  hair  dishevelled, 
their  caps  awry,  their  eyes  alternately  winking  very  hard 
and  staring  awfully  in  the  vain  effort  to  keep  open,  and 
their  whole  physiognomy  wearing  an  expression  of  blank 
stupidity  that  is  peculiar  to  man  when  engaged  in  that 
struggle  which  occurs  each  morning  aa  he  endeavours  to 
disconnect  and  shake  off  the  entanglement  of  nightly 
dreams,  and  the  realities  of  the  breaking  day.  Through- 
out the  whole  camp  there  was  a  low  muffled  sound,  as  of 
men  moving  lazily,  with  broken  whispers  and  disjointed 
sentences  uttered  in  very  deep  hoarse  tones,  mingled  with 
confused,  unearthly  noises,  which,  upon  consideration, 
sounded  like  prolonged  yawns.  Gradually  these  sounds 
increased,  for  the  guide's  "  leve"  is  inexorable,  and  the 
voyageur'a  fate  inevitable. 

"  Oh,  dear  ! — ^yei  a — a ow"  (j/awning);  "  hang  your 

lever 


I 


'• 


1 


I 


I. 

i 


116 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


(( 


Oui,  vraiment — ^yei  a — a        ow — morLleu ! 


"  Eh,  what's  that  1     Oh,  mis^re  ! " 

"  Tare  an'  ages  !"  (from  an  Irishman),  "  an'  I  had  only 
got  to  slaape  yit !  but — ^yei  a — a ow ! " 

French  and  Irish  yawns  are  very  similar,  the  only 
difference  being,  that  whereas  the  Frenchman  finishes  the 
yawn  resignedly,  and  springs  to  his  legs,  the  Irishman 
finishes  it  with  an  energetic  gasp,  as  if  he  were  hurling  it 
remonstratively  into  the  face  of  Fate,  turns  round  again 
and  shuts  his  eyes  doggedly — a  piece  of  bravado  which  he 
knoiL's  is  useless  and  of  very  short  duration. 

"  Love  !  15ve  ! !  leve  ! ! !"  There  was  no  mistake  this 
time  in  the  tones  of  Louis's  voice.  "  Embark,  embark, 
vifce!  vite!"' 

The  subdued  sounds  of  rousing  broke  into  a  loud 
buzz  of  active  preparation,  as  the  men  busied  themselves 
in  bundling  up  blankets,  carrying  down  camp-kettles  to 
the  lake,  launching  the  boats,  kicking  up  lazy  comrades, 
stumbling  over  and  swearing  at  fallen  trees  which  were 
not  visible  in  the  cold  uncertain  light  of  the  early  dawn, 
searching  hopelessly,  among  a  tangled  conglomeration  of 
leaves  and  broken  branches  and  crushed  herbage,  for  lost 
pipes  and  missing  tobacco-pouches. 

"  Hallo ! "  exclaimed  Harry  Somerville,  starting  sud- 
denly from  his  sleeping  posture,  and  unintentionally 
cramming  his  elbow  into  Charley's  mouth,  "I  declare 
they're  all  up  and  nearly  ready  to  start." 

"  That's  no  reason,"  replied  Charley,  "  why  you  should 
knock  ou+^^  all  my  front  teeth,  is  it  ? " 

Just  then  Mr  Park  issued  from  his  tent,  dressed  and 
ready  to  step  into  his  boat.  He  first  gave  a  glance  round 
the  camp  to  see  that  all  the  men  were  moving,  then  he 


i:^ 


FBOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


117 


looked  up  tlirough  the  trees  to  ascertain  the  present  state, 
and,  if  possible,  the  future  prospects  of  the  weather. 
Having  come  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion  on  that  head,  he 
drew  forth  his  pipe  and  began  to  fill  it,  when  his  eye  fell 
on  the  two  boys,  who  were  still  sitting  up  in  their  lairs, 
and  staring  idiotically  at  the  place  where  the  fire  had 
been,  as  if  the  white  ashes,  half-burnt  logs,  and  bits  of 
charcoal,  were  a  sight  of  the  most  novel  and  interesting 
character,  that  filled  them  with  intense  amazement. 

Mr  Park  could  scarce  forbear  smiling. 

"  Hallo,  youngsters,  precious  voyageurs  you'll  make,  to 
be  sure,  if  this  is  the  way  you're  going  to  begin.  Don't 
you  see  that  the  things  are  all  aboard,  and  we'll  be  ready 
to  start  in  five  minutes,  and  you  sitting  there  with  your 
neckcloths  ofi"?" 

Mr  Park  gave  a  slight  sneer  when  he  spoke  of  neckcloths^ 
as  if  he  thought,  in  the  first  place,  that  they  were  quite 
superfluous  portions  of  attire,  and,  in  the  second  place, 
that,  having  once  put  them  on,  the  taking  of  them  off  at 
night  was  a  piece  of  effeminacy  altogether  unworthy  of  a 
Nor'wester. 

Charley  and  Harry  needed  no  second  rebuke.  It 
flashed  instantly  upon  them  that,  sleeping  comfortably 
under  their  blankets  when  the  men  were  bustling  about 
the  camp,  was  extremely  inconsistent  with  the  heroic 
resolves  of  the  previous  day.  They  sprang  up,  rolled 
their  blankets  in  the  oil-cloths,  which  they  fastened 
tightly  with  ropes ;  tied  the  neckcloths,  held  in  such  con- 
tempt by  Mr  Park,  in  a  twinkling ;  threw  on  their  coats, 
and  in  less  than  five  minutes  were  ready  to  embark. 
They  then  found  that  they  might  have  done  things  more 
leisurely,  as  the  crews  had  not  yet  got  all  their  traps  on 


118 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


board,  so  tliey  began  to  look  around  them,  and  discovered 
that  each  had  omitted  to  pack  up  a  blanket. 

Very  much  crestfallen  at  their  stupidity,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  untie  the  bundles  again,  when  it  became 
apparent  to  the  eyes  of  Charley  that  his  friend  had  put 
on  his  capote  inside  out,  which  had  a  peculiarly  ragged 
and  grotesque  effect.  These  mistakes  were  soon  rectified, 
and  shouldering  their  beds,  they  carried  them  down  to 
the  boat,  and  tossed  them  in.  Meanwhile  Mr  Park,  who 
had  been  watching  the  movements  of  the  boys  with  a 
peculiar  smile,  that  filled  them  with  confusion,  went 
round  the  different  camps  to  see  that  nothing  was  left  be- 
hind. The  men  were  all  in  their  places  with  oars  ready, 
and  the  boatiS  floating  on  the  calm  water,  a  yard  or  two 
from  shore,  with  the  exception  of  the  guide's  boat,  the 
stern  of  which  still  rested  on  the  sand  awaiting  Mr  Park. 

"  Who  does  this  belong  to  ?"  shouted  that  gentleman, 
holding  up  a  cloth  cap,  part  of  which  was  of  a  mottled 
brown  and  part  deep  blue. 

Harry  instantly  tore  the  covering  from  his  head,  and 
discovered  that  among  his  numerous  mistakes  he  had  put 
on  the  head-dress  of  one  of  the  Indians  who  had  brought 
him  to  the  camp.  To  do  him  justice,  the  cap  was  not 
unlike  his  own,  excepting  that  it  was  a  little  more  mottled 
and  dirty  in  colour,  besides  being  decorated  with  a  gaudy 
but  very  much  crushed  and  broken  feather. 

"  You  had  better  change  with  our  friend  here,  I  think," 
said  Mr  Park,  grinning  from  ear  to  ear,  as  he  tossed  the 
cap  to  its  owner,  while  Harry  handed  the  other  to  the 
Indian,  amid  the  laughter  of  the  crew. 

"  Never  mind,  boy,"  added  Mr  Park,  in  an  encouraging 
tone,   "you'll  make  a  voyngeur  yet.      Now  then,  lads, 


i:i 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


119 


give  way,"  and,  with  a  nod  to  the  Indians,  who  stood  on 
the  sho  ^e  watching  their  departure,  the  trader  sprang  into 
the  boat  and  took  his  place  beside  the  two  boys. 

"  Ho !  sing,  mes  gargons,"  cried  the  guide,  seizing  the 
massive  sweep  and  directing  the  boat  out  to  sea. 

At  this  part  of  the  lake  there  occurs  a  deep  bay  or 
iulet,  to  save  rounding  which  travellei"s  usually  strike 
straight  across  from  point  to  point,  making  what  is  called 
in  voyageur  parlance  a  traverse.  These  traverses  are  sub- 
jects of  considerable  anxiety,  and  frequently  of  delay  to 
travellers,  being  sometimes  of  considerable  extent,  varying 
from  four  and  five, — and,  in  such  immense  seas  as  Lake 
Superior, — to  fourteen  miles.  With  boats,  indeed,  there 
is  little  to  fear,  as  the  inland  craft  of  the  fur-traders  can 
stand  a  heavy  sea,  and  often  ride  out  a  pretty  severe 
storm ;  but  it  is  far  otherwise  with  the  bark  canoes  that 
are  often  used  in  travelling.  These  frail  craft  can  stand 
very  little  sea, — their  frames  being  made  of  thin  flat  slips 
of  wood  and  sheets  of  bark,  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  thick,  which  are  sewed  together  with  the  fibrous 
roots  of  the  pine  (called  by  the  natives  wattape),  and 
rendered  watertight  by  means  of  melted  gum.  Although 
light  and  buoyant,  therefore,  and  extremely  useful  in  a 
country  where  portages  are  numerous,  they  require  very 
tender  usage  ;  and  when  a  traverse  has  to  be  made,  the 
guides  have  always  a  grave  consultation  with  some  of  the 
most  sagacious  among  the  men,  as  to  the  probability  of 
the  wiiid  rising  or  falling ; — consultations  which  are  more 
or  less  marked  by  anxiety  and  tediousness  in  proportion 
to  the  length  of  the  traverse,  the  state  of  the  weather,  and 
the  courage  or  timidity  of  the  guides. 

On  the  present  occasion  there  was  no  consultation,  as 


M 


V    i 


i 


(,' 


I  ,t 


■  1    1 


i 


r  I 


120 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


has  been  already  seen.  The  traverse  was  a  sliort  one,  tlie 
morning  fine,  and  the  boats  good.  A  warm  glow  began 
to  overspread  the  horizon,  giving  promise  of  a  splendid 
day,  as  the  numerous  oars  dipped  with  a  plash  and  a  loud 
hiss  into  the  water,  and  sent  the  boats  leaping  forth  upon 
the  white  wave. 

"  Sing,  sing !"  cried  the  guide  again,  and  clearing  hia 
throat,  he  began  the  beautiful  quick-tuned  canoe  song, 
"  Rose  Blanche,"  to  which  the  men  chorused  with  such 
power  of  lungs,  that  a  family  of  plovers  which,  up  to  that 
time,  had  stood  in  mute  astonishment  on  a  sandy  point, 
tumbled  precipitately  into  the  water,  from  which  they 
rose  with  a  shrill,  inexpressibly  wild,  plaintive  cry,  and 
fled  screaming  away  to  a  more  secure  refuge  among  the 
reeds  and  sedges  of  a  swamp.  A  number  of  ducks  too, 
awakened  by  the  unwonted  sound,  shot  suddenly  out  from 
the  concealment  of  their  n  ght's  bivouac  with  erect  heads 
and  startled  looks,  spluttered  heavily  over  the  surface  of 
their  liquid  bed,  and  rising  into  the  air,  flew  in  a  wide 
circuit,  with  whistling  wings,  away  from  the  scene  of  so 
much  uproar  and  confusion. 

The  rough  voices  of  the  men  grew  softer  and  softer,  as 
the  two  Indians  listened  to  the  song  of  their  departing 
fn'finds,  mellowing  down  and  becoming  more  harmonioViS 
and  more  plaintive  as  the  distance  increased,  anc!  the 
boats  grew  smaller  and  smaller,  until  they  were  lost  in 
the  blaze  of  light  that  now  bathed  both  water  and  sky 
in  the  eastern  horizon,  and  began  rapidly  to  climb  the 
zenith,  while  the  sweet  tones  became  less  and  less  audible 
as  they  floated  faintly  across  the  still  water,  and  melted 
at  last  into  the  deep  silence  of  the  wilderness. 

The  two  Indians  still  stood,  with  downcast  heads  and 


I  ) 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


121 


listening  ears,  as  if  they  loved  the  last  echo  of  the  dying 
music,  while  their  grave,  statue-like  forms,  added  to, 
ratlier  than  detracted  from,  the  solitude  of  the  deserted 
scene. 


9 


1 


122 


SNOWFLAKCS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I 


'U 


i « 


u? 


li 


CHAPTEE  Xr. 

Charley  and  Harry  begin  their  sporting  career,  without  much  success; 

'\Vhi>ky-John  catching. 

The  place  in  the  boats  usually  allotted  to  gentlemen 
in  the  Company's  service  while  travelling  is  the  stern. 
Here  the  lading  is  so  arranged  as  to  form  a  pretty  level 
hollow,  where  the  flat  bundles  containing  their  blankets 
are  placetl,  and  a  couch  is  thus  formed  that  rivals  Eastern 
effeminacy  in  luxuriance.  There  are  occasions,  however, 
when  this  couch  is  converted  into  a  bed,  not  of  thorns 
exactly,  but  of  corners ;  and,  really,  it  would  be  hard 
to  say  which  of  the  two  is  the  more  disagreeable.  Should 
the  men  be  careless  in  ai"ranging  the  cargo,  the  inevitable 
consequence  is,  that  "  monsieur"  will  find  the  leg  of  an 
iron  stove,  the  sharp  edge  of  a  keg,  or  the  corner  of  a 
wooden  box,  occupying  the  place  where  his  ribs  should  be. 
So  common,  however,  is  this  occurrence  that  the  clerks 
usually  superintend  the  armngements  themselves,  and 
so  secure  comfort. 

On  a  couch,  then,  of  this  kind,  Charley  and  IJarry 
now  found  themselves  constrained  to  sit  all  morning ; 
sometimes  asleep,  occasionally  awake,  and  always  earnestly 
desiring  that  it  was  time  to  put  ashore  for  breakfast, 
as  they  had  now  travelled  for  four  hours  without  halt, 
except  twice  for  about  five  minutes,  to  let  the  men  light 
their  pipes. 


FROM  THE  FxVR  NORTH. 


123 


I  success; 


"  Charley,"  s<aitl  Harry  Somerville  to  his  friend,  wlio  sat. 
Reside  him,  "  it  strikes  ine  that  we  are  to  have  no  break- 
fast at  all  to-day.  Here  hav^e  I  been  holding  my  breath 
and  tightening  my  belt,  until  I  feel  much  more  like  a 
spider  or  a  wasp,  than  a — a " 

"  Man,  Harry ;  out  with  it  at  once,  don't  be  afraid," 
said  Charley. 

"  Well,  no,  I  wasn't  going  to  have  said  that  exactly, 
but  I  was  going  to  have  said,  a  voyageiir,  only  I  recollected 
our  doings  this  morning,  and  hesitated  to  take  the  name 
until  I  had  won  it." 

"It's  well  that  you  entertain  so  modest  an  opinion 
of  yourself,"  said  Mr  Park,  who  still  smoked  his  pipe  as 
if  he  were  impressed  with  the  idea  that  to  stop  for  a 
moment  would  produce  instant  death.  "  I  may  tell  you 
icv  your  comfort,  youngsters,  that  we  shan't  breakfast  till 
we  reach  yonder  point." 

The  shores  of  Lake  VVinipeg  are  flat  and  low,  and  the 
point  indicated  by  Mr  Park  lay  directly  in  the  light 
of  the  sun,  which  now  shone  with  such  splendour  in  the 
cloudless  sky,  and  flashed  on  the  polished  water,  that 
it  was  with  difliculty  they  could  look  towards  the  point 
uf  land. 

"Where  is  it?"  asked  Charley,  shading  his  eyes  with 
his  hand  ;  "  I  cannot  make  out  anything  at  all." 

"  Try  again,  my  boy,  there's  nothing  like  practice." 

"  Ah !  yes,  I  make  it  out  now,  a  faint  shadow  just 
under  the  sun.     Is  that  it  ?" 

"  Ay,  and  we'll  break  our  fast  there.^^ 

"I  would  like  very  much  to  break  your  head  here,'' 
thought  Charley,  but  he  did  not  say  it ;  as,  besides  being 
likely  to  produce  unpleasant  consequences,  he  felt  that 


124 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


such  a  speech  to  an  elderly  gentleman  would  be  highly 
improper ;  and  Charley  had  some  respect  for  gray  hail's, 
for  their  own  sake,  whether  the  owner  of  them  was  a 
good  man  or  a  goose. 

"  What  shall  we  do,  Harry  ?  If  I  had  only  thought  of 
keeping  out  a  book." 

"  I  know  what  /  shall  do,"  said  Harry,  ^vith  a  resolute 
air,  "  I'll  go  and  shoot  i" 

"  Shoot !"  cried  Charley,  "you  don't  mean  to  say  that 
you're  going  to  waste  your  powder  and  shot  by  firing 
at  the  clouds;  for,  unless  you  take  them,  I  see  nothing 
else  here." 

"That's  because  you  don't  use  your  eyes,"  retorted 
Harry.  '"  Will  you  just  look  at  yonder  rock  ahead  of  us, 
and  tell  me  what  you  see." 

Charley  looked  earnestly  at  the  rock,  which,  to  a  cursory 
glance,  seemed  as  if  composed  of  whiter  stone  on  the  top. 
"  Gulls  !  I  declare  !"  shouted  Charley  j  at  the  same  time 
jumping  up  in  haste. 

Just  then  one  of  the  gulls,  probably  a  scout  sent  out  to 
watch  the  approaching  enemy,  wheeled  in  a  circle  over- 
head. The  two  youths  dragged  their  guns  from  beneath 
the  thwarts  of  the  boat,  and  rummaged  about  in  great 
anxiety  for  shot-belts  and  powder-horns.  At  last  they 
were  found,  and,  having  loaded,  they  sat  on  the  edge  of 
the  boat  looking  out  for  game  with  as  much, — ay,  with 
wiore  intense,  interest  than  a  Blackfoot  Indian  would  have 
watched  for  a  fat  buffalo  cow. 

"  There  he  goes,"  said  Harry ;  "  take  the  first  shot, 
Charley." 

"  Where  1  where  is  it  ?" 

"  Right  ahead.     Look  out  1" 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


12.-> 


As  Harry  spoke,  a  small  white  gull,  with  hright  red 
legs  and  beak,  flew  over  the  boat  so  close  to  them  that,  as 
the  guide  remarked,  "  he  could  see  it  wink  !"  Charley  s 
equanimity,  already  pretty  well  disturbed,  was  entirely 
upset  at  the  suddenness  of  the  bird's  appearance,  for  he 
had  been  gazing  intently  at  the  rock  when  his  friend's 
exclamation  drew  his  attention  in  time  to  see  the  gull 
within  about  four  feet  of  his  head.  With  a  sudden 
"  Oh ! "  Charley  threw  forward  his  gun,  took  a  short, 
wavering  aim,  and  blew  the  cocktail  feather  out  of  Bap- 
tiste's  hat,  while  the  gull  sailed  tranquilly  away,  as  much 
as  to  say,  "  If  that's  all  you  can  do,  there's  no  need  for  me 
to  hurry  !" 

"  Confound  the  boy !"  cried  Mr  Park ;  "  you'll  be  the 
death  of  some  one  yet.     I'm  convinced  of  that." 

"  Parbleu  !  you  may  say  that,  c'est  vrai,"  remarked  the 
voyageur,  with  a  rueful  gaze  at  his  hat,  which,  besides 
having  its  ornamental  feather  shattered,  was  sadly  cut  up 
about  the  crown. 

The  poor  lad's  face  became  much  redder  than  the  legs 
or  beak  of  the  gull  as  he  sat  down  in  confusion,  which  he 
sought  to  hide  by  busily  reloading  his  gun  ;  while  the  men 
indulged  in  a  somewhat  witty  and  sarcastic  criticism  of 
his  powers  of  shooting,  remarking,  in  flattering  terms,  on 
ill}  precision  of  the  shot  that  blew  Baptiste's  feather  into 
atoms,  and  declaring  that  if  every  shot  he  fired  was  as 
truly  aimed,  he  would  certainly  be  the  best  in  the  country. 

Baptiste  also  came  in  for  a  share  of  their  repartee. 
"  It  serves  you  right,"  said  the  guide,  laughing,  "  for 
wearing  such  things  on  the  voyage.  You  should  put 
away  such  foppery  till  you  return  to  the  settlement, 
where  there  are  girls  to  admire  you."     (Baptiste  had  coii- 


12G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAM?} 


u 


). 


tiuuccl  to  wear  tlie  tall  hat,  oniaineiited  with  gold  cordd 
ami  tassels,  with  which  he  had  left  lied  llivei-.) 

"  Ah  !"  cried  another,  pulling  vigorously  at  his  oar,  "  I 
fear  that  Mai'ie  won't  look  at  you,  now  that  all  your 
beauty's  gone." 

"  'Tis  not  (juite  gone,"  said  a  third ;  *'  there's  all  the 
brim  and  half  a  tassel  left,  besides  the  wreck  of  the 
remainder." 

*'  Oh  !  I  can  lend  you  a  few  fragments,"  retorted  Bap- 
tiste,  endeavouring  to  i)ariy  some  of  the  thioists.  "  Tluy 
would  improve  you  vastly." 

"  No,  no,  friend,  gather  them  up  and  replace  them  ; 
they  will  look  more  picturesque  and  becoming  now.  I 
believe  if  you  had  worn  them  much  longer  all  the  men  in 
tlie  Ijoat  would  have  fallen  in  love  with  you." 

"  By  St  Patrick,"  said  IVIike  Brady — an  Irishman  who 
sat  at  the  oar  immediately  behind  the  unfortunate  Cana- 
dian— "  there's  more  than  enough  o'  rubbish  scattered 
over  mysilf  nor  would  do  to  stuff  a  fither  bed  with." 

As  Mike  spoke,  he  collected  the  fragments  of  feathei's 
and  ribbons  with  which  the  \inlucky  shot  had  strewn 
him,  and  placed  them  slyly  on  the  top  of  the  dilapidated 
hat,  which  Baj^tiste,  after  clearing  away  the  wreck,  had 
replaced  on  his  head. 

"  It's  very  purty,"  said  Mike,  as  the  action  was  received 
by  the  crew  with  a  shoiit  of  merriment. 

Baptiste  ,/as  waxing  wrathful  under  this  fire,  when  the 
general  attention  was  drawn  again  towaixls  Charley  and 
his  friend,  who,  having  now  got  close  to  the  rock,  had 
quite  forgotten  their  mishap  in  the  excitement  of  ex- 
pectation. 

This  excitement  in  the  shooting  of  such  small  game 


FROM  THE  FAR  NOIlTlf. 


127 


iiiiglit  jicrLiips  surprise  our  rcjulcrs,  did  we  not  ficcjuaint 
tiiem  witli  the  fact  that  neitlier  of  the  hoys  had,  up  to 
tliat  time,  enjoyed  much  opportunity  of  shooting.  It  is 
true  that  Harry  had  once  or  twice  borrowed  the  fowling- 
piece  of  the  senior  clerk,  and  had  sallied  forth  with  a 
beating  heart  to  pursue  the  grouse  which  are  found  in  the 
belt  of  woodland  skirting  the  Assinaboine  river,  near 
to  Fort  Garry.  But  these  expeditious  were  of  rare  occur- 
rence, and  thev  had  not  sutHced  to  rub  off  much  of  the 
bounding  excitement  with  which  he  loaded  and  fired  at 
anything  and  everything  that  came  within  range  of  liisj 
gun.  Charley,  on  the  other  liand,  had  never  fired  a  shot 
before,  except  out  of  an  old  horse-pistol ;  having,  up  to 
this  period,  been  busily  engaged  at  school,  except  during 
the  holidays,  which  he  always  spent  in  the  society  of  his 
sister  Kate,  whose  tastes  were  not  such  as  were  likely  to 
induce  him  to  take  up  the  gun,  even  if  he  had  possessed 
siicli  a  weapon.  Just  before  leaving  Red  River  his  father 
presented  him  with  his  own  gun,  remarking,  as  he  did  so, 
with  a  sigh,  that  his  day  was  past  now ;  and  adding,  that 
the  gun  was  a  good  one  for  shot  or  ball,  and  if  he  (Charley) 
brought  do^vn  half  as  much  game  with  it  as  he  (Mr  Ken- 
nedy) had  brought  down  in  the  course  of  his  life,  he 
might  consider  himself  a  o,   "■Ic  shot,  undoubtedly. 

It  was  not  surprising,  liierefore,  that  the  two  friends 
went  nearly  mad  with  excitation  when  the  whole  flock  oi 
gulls  rose  into  the  air  like  a  white  cloud,  and  sailed  in 
endless  circles  and  gvi'ations  above  and  around  their 
heads ; — flying  so  close  at  times  that  they  might  almost 
have  been  caught  by  the  hand.  Neither  was  it  surprising 
that  innumerable  shots  were  fired,  by  both  sportsmen, 
without  a  single  bird  being  a  whit  the  worse  for  it,  nor 


U>8 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


thoiriHolvos  miicli  the  bettor ;  the  energetic  efl^jrts  iniule 
to  liit  being  rendered  abortive  by  the  very  cagerne^ia 
whicli  caused  tlieni  to  miss.  And  this  whs  the  less  extra- 
ordinary, too,  when  it  is  remembered  that  Harry  in  his 
haste  loaded  several  times  without  shot,  and  Charley 
rendered  the  I'ight  barrel  of  his  gnu  hors  de  combat  at  last, 
by  ramming  down  a  charge  of  shot  and  omitting  powder 
altogether,  whereby  he  snapped  and  prime»l,  and  snapped 
and  primed  again,  till  ho  grew  desperate,  and  then  sus- 
picious of  the  true  cause,  which  he  finally  rectified  with 
much  ditEculty. 

Frequently  the  gulls  flew  straight  over  the  heads  of 
the  youtlis,  which  produced  peculiar  consequences — as,  in 
such  Cii^es,  they  took  aim  while  the  birds  were  approach- 
ing, but  being  somewhat  slow  at  taking  aim,  the  gidls 
were  almost  perpendiculai'ly  above  them  ere  they  were 
ready  to  shoot,  so  that  they  were  obliged  to  fire  liastily  in 
ho2)e,  feeling  that  they  were  losing  their  balance,  or  give 
up  the  chance  altogether. 

Mr  Park  sat  grimly  in  his  place  all  the  while,  enjoying 
the  scene,  and  smoking. 

"  Now  then,  Charley,"  said  he  ;  "  take  that  fellow." 

"  Which  ?  Where ?  Oh  !  if  I  could  only  get  one" 
said  Charley,  looking  up  eagerly  at  the  screaming  birds, 
at  which  he  had  been  staring  so  long,  in  their  varying 
and  crossing  flight,  that  his  sight  had  become  hopelessly 
unsteady. 

"  There  !     Look  sharp  ;  fire  away  ! " 

Bang  went  Charley's  piece,  as  he  spoke,  at  a  gull 
which  flew  straight  towards  him,  but  so  rapidly  that  it 
was  directly  above  his  head ;  indeed,  he  was  leaning  a 
little  backwards  at  the  moment,  which  caused  him  to 


\  I 


'fTorts  inado 
f  cagoriV'NS 
3  less  extra- 
liny  in  his 
i<l    Cluirloy 
lOat  at  la.st, 
ng  powdor 
111  snui)p(!il 
i  then  sus- 
tified  with 


!  heads  of 
308 — as,  in 
approacli- 
the  giilla 
they  were 
hastily  in 
Q,  or  give 

enjoying 

How." 
get  one" 


5  birds, 


iisr 


•  varying 
opelessly 


fc  a  gull 


that  it 
ming  a 
him  to 


i.i 


«,. 


m 


f>:- 


&:. 


M^ 


M 


-tft'. 


*»ir^-"-**i', 


^.. 


J'- 


^' 


•t 


■J      ! 


T 

ii 

I 

I 

It 


i^fcastanlwi 


I' 


i  f " 


1  •>  0 


S.SOATLAKKS  AlsD  SUM>i;".VM3 


ihoni'"' '—  fji-,;i.;h  tliu  'Miittev;  the  encigctic  efloi-ts  made 
V'.  Ji  f:<niig  v  iid''!.'.d  aljortive  \ty  the  v.-ry  eagerness 
»*  .  rrif'l  l^j-  'i5  Tm!  .'uif':-.     Aiid  this  wa-s  the  les;^  t-xtra- 

,.-'  H.-v,  riK\  «.'.«'!»  (T.  •:>  reJuoiub«-M('d  tliat  Harrv  iii  his 
<- ;]  •:-in'.'«  sv'itliont  .shot,  and  '.'harley 
'  '  ,t:  1  'A  KLs  git";  /  ri  (!<'  rnrnhnt  at  last, 
,.  i';,r..  ;-•  .  ■„■,'■,  -4  ;-iM,5-»''  •'• '^^^i -t  ar..J  'liiiiltxtiu  powdov 
..  •.  ,,.,  '.(  -  v  h'  ■  •.  •  \;\>i''i  ixvA  i>rini',.-d.  and  snapped 
;,,,  •  V    '  .  v^'i   iii:  /;'-•-■■■  f|f:-.]/»'(tM^     and  then  ^iis- 

,.•■.•...>  .f  tjM'.  «  -uc  (■«<!•«:•,  Au..;h  Ui'  tj-j'aiiy  rectllicd  wicii 
)!     -•>  dmculty 

I'.'T  jiu'iiliy  ti'.e  p:'ii.lB  f!;!sr  straight  wvor  ihu  head.-}  of 
t!i';  v.<utli.8,  wfjicli  produced  peouliar  ctnsequoiicas — a.s,  m 
such  c.'feus.  they  {v>ok  aim  wad-  tlu'  Mrds--  woi'<«,  appiviuoJi- 
in«^,  but  beiiig  ^^(.lat  wlia'  slow  at  fakitiq  ;d:n,  the  gnil.s 
wero  aliDOt.'  ]'.'.p'^'''<li'.'(il;  j'i/  al-o\e  ths  ui  t'lo  ihey  ^\^.'^e 
v  j.dv  tc'^Koot.  <ti  (';ni  (ht.-y  wera  oV)lig».'d  to  fire  .iiastil}'  »u 
.'-/.■-,  fMiiig  ''-.i'.  ':-.■  ;    vvou:  i>!v:iug  th(:u  balau':'.',  or  ^ivo 

!•/*.<'  'lA  the  Nvhiie,  enjoyiug 


*.i> 


',»-■ 


^.< 


'J.   ■••  ft 


•uiu  ;a:  .  *'  talso  Uiac  frllf>w/' 

•  :      ;i'    I    I'Mitd  oidy  get   Om%" 

.'■.   ■!  i-X  liii.;  c-fvoarning  bird^, 

i    '.'.J  <■'■:  h  t'g.  ill  ihcar  varying 

vwn     -\^.)   bi>i\/!ae  hopele:::.f>iy 

.  :\\  <:■*  ko  spokf'.,  at  a  gul' 
iv.  irut  SG  rapidly  that  it 
\\-ai<  di'frrly  ab'vu  hi;^  I  .d  ,  i  uhad,  ho  v^M8  hmailig  it 
iitrJo    !■  :!vic\va=d..s   at    im^    i*-?  ni'.-ti*.   whi-li   eaur^cd  luui   lo 


-'    \Vbi,;h  ? 

iL^aid  Cliarb."-'.  L'okiiijj-  v  *; 
at  ■\vliich    hn  had   Ixio;:. 
ao.d  (■ro,s«.n;j;  tlig;.'^,  th'. 
•auste.arl\ . 

'-  '{'h.-o  1     Lou^-  snaj-j' 

iifin       v.  eat,   ( ')  ,'rit  V  : 

V  .ji'Ji    il"- .V  r.tr;i,iL!it  t'tw--^ 


I.I 


■/   eageruess 


ASHORE  FOR   BREAKFAST. 


Page  130. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


129 


miss  again,  wMle  the  recoil  of  the  gun  brought  matters  to 
a  climax,  by  toppling  him  over  into  Mr  Park's  lap,  thereby 
smashing  that  gentleman's  pipe  to  atoms.  The  fall 
accidently  exploded  the  second  barrel,  causing  the  butt  to 
strike  Charley  in  the  pit  of  his  stomach, — as  if  to  ram  him 
well  home  into  Mr  Park's  open  arms, — and  hitting,  with  a 
stray  shot,  a  gull  that  was  sailing  high  up  in  the  sky  in 
fancied  security.  It  fell  with  a  fluttering  crash  into  the 
boat,  while  the  men  were  laughing  at  the  accident. 

"  Didn't  I  say  so  ? "  cried  Mr  Park,  wrathfully  as  he 
pitched  Charley  out  of  his  lap,  and  spat  out  the  remnants 
of  his  broken  pipe. 

r  >rtunately  for  all  parties,  at  this  moment,  the  boat 
a)  J'  3d  a  spot  on  which  the  guide  had  resolved  to 
lanu  lor  breakfast ;  and,  seeing  the  unpleasant  predica- 
ment into  which  poor  Charley  had  fallen,  he  assumed  the 
strong  tones  of  command  with  which  guides  are  frequently 
gifted,  and  called  out — 

"  Ho  !  ho  !  a  terre  !  a  terre  !  to  land  !  to  land  !  Break- 
fast, my  boys ;  breakfast ! "  at  the  same  time  sweeping 
the  boat's  head  shoreward,  and  running  into  a  rocky  bay, 
whose  margin  was  fringed  by  a  growth  of  small  trees. 
Here,  in  a  few  minutes,  they  were  joined  by  the  other 
boats  of  the  brigade,  which  had  kept  within  sight  of  each 
other  nearly  the  whole  morning. 

While  travelling  through  the  wilds  of  North  America 
in  boats,  voyageurs  always  make  a  point  of  landing  to 
breakfast.  Dinner  is  a  meal  with  which  they  are  unac- 
quainted, at  least  on  the  voyage,  and  luncheon  is  likewise 
unknown.  If  a  man  feels  hungry  during  the  day,  the 
pemican  bag  and  its  contents  are  there ;  he  may  pause  in 
his  work  at  any  time,  for  a  minute,  to  seize  tlie  axe  and 


7y--i-5r.- 


130 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


f 


1. 


cut  off  a  lump,  wliicli  he  may  devour  as  he  best  can ;  but 
tliei'e  is  no  going  ashore — no  resting  for  dinner.  Two 
great  meals  are  recognised,  and  the  time  allotted  to  their 
preparation  and  consumption  held  inviolable — breakfast 
and  supper; — the  first  varying  between  the  hours  of 
seven  and  nine  in  the  morning ;  the  second  about  sunset, 
at  which  time  travellers  usually  encamp  for  the  night. 
Of  the  two  meals,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  which  is 
more  agreeable.  For  our  own  part,  we  prefer  the  former. 
It  is  the  meal  to  which  a  man  addresses  himself  with 
peculiar  gusto,  especially  if  he  has  been  astir  three  or  four 
hours  previously  in  the  open  air.  It  is  the  time  of  day, 
too,  when  the  spirits  are  freshest  and  highest,  animated 
by  th^  prospect  of  the  work,  the  difficulties,  the  plea- 
sures, or  the  adventures  of  the  day  that  has  begun  ;  and 
cheered  by  that  cool,  clear  buoyancy  of  Nature,  which 
belongs  exclusively  to  the  happy  morning  hours,  and  has 
led  poets  in  all  ages  to  compare  these  hours  to  the  first 
sweet  months  of  spring,  or  the  early  years  of  childhood. 

Voyageurs,  not  less  than  poets,  have  felt  the  exliilarating 
influence  of  the  young  day,  although  they  have  lacked  the 
power  to  tell  it  in  sounding  numbers ;  but,  where  words 
were  wanting,  the  sparkling  eye,  the  beaming  counte- 
nance, the  light  step,  and  hearty  laugh,  were  more 
powerful  exponents  of  the  feelings  within.  Poet,  and 
painter  too,  might  have  spent  a  profitable  hour  on  the 
shores  of  that  great  sequestered  lake;  and,  as  they 
watched  the  picturesque  groups — clustering  round  the 
blazing  fires,  preparing  their  morning  meal,  smoking 
their  pipes,  examining  and  repairing  the  boats,  or  sun- 
ning their  stalwart  limbs  in  wild,  careless  attitudes  upon 
the  green  sward, — might  have  found  a  subject  worthy  the 


•:#     ♦ 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


131 


most  brilliant  effusions  of  the  pen,  or  the  most  graphic 
touches  of  the  penciL 

An  hour  sufficed  for  breakfast.  "While  it  was  prepar- 
ing, the  two  friends  sauntered  into  tlie  forest  in  search  of 
game,  in  which  they  were  unsuccessful ;  in  fact,  with 
the  exception  of  the  gulls  before  mentioned,  there  was 
not  a  feather  to  be  seen, — save,  always,  one  or  two  whisky- 
johns. 

Whisky-johns  are  the  most  impudent,  puffy,  conceited, 
little  birds  that  exist.  Not  much  larger  in  reality  than 
sparrows,  they  nevertheless  manage  to  swell  out  their 
feathers  to  such  an  extent  that  they  appear  to  be  as  large 
as  magpies,  which  they  farther  resemble  in  their  plumage. 
Go  where  you  will  in  the  woods  of  Rupert's  Land,  the 
instant  that  you  light  a  fire,  two  or  three  whisky-johns 
come  down  and  sit  beside  you,  on  a  branch,  it  may  be,  or 
on  the  ground,  and  generally  so  near  that  you  cannot  but 
wonder  at  their  recklessness.  There  is  a  species  of  impu- 
dence which  seems  to  be  specially  attached  to  little  birds. 
In  them  it  reaches  the  highest  pitch  of  perfection.  A 
bold,  swelling,  arrogant  effrontery;  a  sort  of  stark, 
staring,  self-complacent,  comfortable,  and  yet  innocent 
impertinence,  which  is  at  once  irritating  and  aiixusing, 
aggravating  and  attractive,  and  which  is  exhibited  in  the 
greatest  intensity  in  the  whisky-john.  He  will  jump 
down  almost  under  your  nose,  and  seize  a  fragment  of 
,  biscuit  or  pemican.  He  wiU  go  right  into  the  pemican 
bag,  when  you  are  but  a  few  paces  off,  and  pilfer,  as  it 
were,  at  the  fountain-head.  Or,  if  these  resources  are 
closed  against  him,  he  will  sit  on  a  twig,  within  an  inch 
of  your  head,  and  look  at  you  as  only  a  whisky-john  can 
look. 


-f--^' 


^' 


„  \ 


i 


'  I 


■ 


132 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  ni  catch  one  of  these  rascals,"  said  Harry,  as  he 
saw  them  jump  unceremoniously  into  and  out  of  the 
pemican  bag. 

Going  down  to  the  boat,  Harry  hid  himself  under  the 
tarpaulin,  leaving  a  hole  open  near  to  the  mouth  of  the  bag. 
He  had  not  remained  more  than  a  few  minutes  in  this  con- 
cealment, when  one  of  the  birds  flew  down,  and  alighted 
on  the  edge  of  the  boat.  After  a  glance  round  to  see 
that  all  was  right,  it  jumped  into  the  bag.  A  moment 
after,  Harry,  darting  his  hand  through  the  aperture, 
grasped  him  round  the  neck,  and  secured  him.  Poor 
whisky-john  screamed  and  pecked  ferociously,  while  Harry 
brought  him  in  triumph  to  his  friend ;  but  so  unremit- 
tingly did  the  bird  scream,  that  its  captor  was  fain  at  last 
to  let  him  off",  the  more  especially  as  the  cook  came 
up  at  the  moment  and  announced  that  breakfast  was 
ready. 


«    i 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


133 


CHAPTi.ll  XII. 


The  Storm. 


Two  days  after  the  events  of  the  last  chapter,  the  brigade 
was  making  one  of  the  traverses  which  have  already  been 
noticed  as  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  great  lakes.  The 
morning  was  calm  and  sultry.  A  deep  stillness  pervaded 
nature,  which  tended  to  produce  a  corresponding  quies- 
cence in  the  mind,  and  to  fill  it  with  those  indescribably 
solemn  feelings  that  frequently  arise  before  a  thunder- 
storm. Dark,  lurid  clouds  hung  overhead  in  gigantic 
masses,  piled  above  each  other  like  the  battlements  of  a 
dark  fortress,  from  whose  ragged  embrasures  the  artillery 
of  heaven  was  about  to  play. 

"  Shall  we  get  over  in  time,  Louis  ? "  asked  Mr  Park, 
as  he  turned  to  the  guide,  who  sat  holding  the  tiller  with 
a  firm  grasp  j  while  the  men,  aware  of  the  necessity  of 
reaching  shelter  ere  the  storm  burst  upon  them,  were 
bending  to  the  oars  with  steady  and  sustained  energy. 

"  Perhaps,"  replied  Louis,  laconically.  "  Pull,  lads, 
pull !  else  you'll  have  to  sleep  in  wet  skins  to-night." 

A  low  growl  of  distant  thunder  followed  the  guide's 
words,  and  the  men  pulled  with  additional  energy ;  while 
the  slow,  measured  hiss  of  the  water,  and  clank  of  oars,  an 
they  cut  swiftly  through  the  lake's  clear  surface,  alone  in- 
terrupted the  dead  silence  that  ensued. 

Charley  and  his  friend  conversed  in  low  whispers  ;  for 


134 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


i! 


tliere  is  a  stmnge  power  in  a  thunder-storm,  whether  rag- 
ing oi  about  to  break,  that  overawes  the  heart  of  man — 
as  If  Nature's  God  were  nearer  then  than  at  other  times  ; 
as  if  He — whose  voice,  indeed,  if  listened  to,  speaks  even 
in  the  slightest  evolution  of  natural  phenomena —were 
ahoiit  to  tread  the  visible  earth  with  more  than  usual 
majesty,  in  the  vivid  glare  of  the  lightning  flash,  and  in 
the  awful  crash  of  thunder. 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  I  feel  more  like  a  coward," 
said  CliJirley,  "just  before  a  thunder-storm,  than  I  think 
I  should  do  in  the  arms  of  a  polar  bear.  Do  you  feel 
queer,  Harry?" 

"  A  little,"  replied  Harry,  in  a  low  whisper  ;  "  and  yet 
I'm  not^frightened.  I  can  scarcely  tell  what  I  feel ;  but 
I'm  certain  it's  not  fear." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know,"  said  Charley.  "  When  father's 
V>lack  bull  chased  Kate  and  me  in  the  prairies,  and  almost 
overtook  us,  as  we  ran  for  the  fence  of  the  big  field,  I  felt 
my  heart  leap  to  my  mouth,  and  the  blood  rush  to  my 
cheeks,  as  I  turned  about  and  faced  him,  while  Kate 
climbed  the  fence ;  but  after  she  was  over,  I  felt  a  wild 
sort  of  wickedness  in  me,  as  if  I  should  like  to  tantalise 
and  torment  him;  and  I  felt  altogether  different  from 
what  I  feel  now  while  I  look  up  at  those  black  clouds. 
Isn't  tliei'e  something  quite  awful  in  them,  Harry  1 " 

Ere  Harry  replied,  a  bright  flash  of  lightning  shot 
athwart  the  sky,  followed  by  a  loud  roll  of  thunder,  and 
in  a  moment  the  wind  rushed — like  a  fiend  set  suddenly 
free — down  upon  the  boats,  tearing  up  the  smooth  surface 
of  the  water  as  it  flew,  and  cutting  it  into  gleaming  white 
streaks.  Fortunately  the  storm  came  down  behind  the 
boats,  so  that,  after  the  fii-st  wild  burst  was  over,  they 


I ;  1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


135 


hoisted  a  small  portion  of  their  lug  sails,  and  scudded 
rapidly  before  it. 

There  was  still  a  considerable  portion  of  the  traverse  to 
cross,  and  the  guide  cast  an  anxious  glance  over  his 
shoulder  occasionally,  as  the  dark  waves  began  to  rise, 
and  their  crests  were  cut  into  white  foam  by  the  increas- 
ing gale.  Thundei  roared  in  continued,  successive  peals, 
as  if  the  heavens  were  breaking  up  ;  while  rain  descended 
in  sheets.  For  a  time  the  crews  continued  to  ply  their 
oai-s ;  but,  as  the  wind  increased,  these  were  rendered 
superfluous.  They  were  taken  in,  therefore,  and  the  men 
sought  partial  shelter  under  the  taipaulin  ;  while  Mr  Park 
and  the  two  boys  were  covered,  excepting  their  heads,  by 
an  oil-cloth,  which  was  always  kept  at  hand  in  rainy 
weather. 

"  What  think  you  now,  Louis  ? "  said  Mr  Park,  resum- 
ing the  pipe  which  the  sudden  outburst  of  the  storm  had 
caused  him  to  forget.     "  Have  we  seen  the  woret  of  it  1 " 

Louis  replied  abniptly  in  the  negative  ;  and,  in  a  few 
seconds,  shouted  loudly — "  Look  out,  lads  ;  here  conies  a 
squall.     Stand  by  to  let  go  the  sheet  there  ! " 

Mike  Brady,  happening  to  be  near  the  sheet,  seized  hold 
of  the  rope,  and  prepared  to  let  go  ;  while  the  men  rose, 
as  if  by  instinct,  and  gazed  anxiously  at  the  approaching 
squall,  which  could  be  seen  in  the  distance,  extending 
rdong  the  horizon,  like  a  bar  of  blackest  ink,  spotted  with 
flakes  of  white.  The  guide  sat  with  compressed  lips  and 
motionless  as  a  statue,  guiding  the  boat  as  it  bounded 
madly  towards  the  land,  which  was  now  not  more  than 
half-a-mile  distant. 

"Let  go!"  shouted  the  guide,  in  a  voice  that  waa 
heard  loud  and  clear  above  the  roar  of  the  elements. 


^y 


136 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


t'^ 


"  Ay,  ay,"  replied  the  Irishman,  untwisting  the  rope 
instantly,  as,  with  a  sharp  hiss,  the  squall  descended  on 
the  boat. 

At  that  moment  the  rope  became  entangled  round 
one  of  the  oars,  and  the  gale  burst  with  all  its  fury  on 
the  distended  sail,  burying  the  prow  in  the  waves,  which 
rushed  in-board  in  a  black  volume,  and  in  an  instant  half 
filled  the  boat. 

"  Let  go ! "  roared  the  guide  again,  in  a  voice  of 
thunder ;  while  Mike  struggled  with  awkward  energy  to 
disentangle  the  rope. 

As  he  spoke,  an  Indian,  who  during  the  storm  had 
been  sitting  beside  the  mast,  gazing  at  the  boiling  water 
with  a  ^rave  contemplative  aspect,  sprang  quickly  forward, 
drew  his  knife,  and,  with  two  blows  (so  rapidly  delivered 
that  they  seemed  but  one)  cut  asunder,  first  the  sheet 
and  then  the  halyards,  which  let  the  sail  blow  out  and 
fall  flat  upon  the  boat.  He  was  just  in  time.  Another 
moment  and  the  gushing  water,  which  curled  over  the 
bow,  would  have  filled  them  to  the  gimwale.  As  it  was, 
the  little  vessel  was  so  full  of  water  that  she  lay  like 
a  log,  while  every  toss  of  the  waves  sent  an  additional 
torrent  into  her. 

"  Bail  for  your  lives,  lads,"  cried  Mr  Park,  as  he  sprang 
forward,  and,  seizing  a  tin  dish,  began  energetically 
to  bail  out  the  water.  Following  his  example,  the  whole 
crew  seized  whatever  came  first  to  hand  in  the  shape  of 
dish  or  kettle,  and  began  to  bail.  Charley  and  Harry 
Somerville  acted  a  vigorous  part  on  this  occasion,  the  one 
with  a  bark  dish,  (which  had  been  originally  made  by  the 
natives  for  the  purpose  of  holding  maple  sugar,)  the  other 
with  his  cap. 


FUOM  THE  FAIl  NOllTII. 


137 


Fur  a  time,  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  the  curling 
waves  should  send  most  water  into  the  boat,  or  the  crew 
should  bail  most  out  of  it.  But  the  latter  soon  prevailed, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  it  was  so  far  got  under,  that  three 
of  the  men  were  enabled  to  leave  ofl'  bailing  and  re-set 
the  sail,  while  Louis  Feltier  returned  to  his  post  at  the 
helm.  At  fii*st  the  boat  moved  but  slowly,  owing  to  the 
weight  of  water  in  her ;  but,  as  this  grew  gradually  less, 
she  increased  her  speed  and  ueared  the  land. 

"Well  done,  Redfeather,"  said  Mr  Park,  addressing 
the  Indian  as  he  resumed  his  seat ;  "  your  knife  did 
us  good  service  that  "time,  my  fine  fellow." 

Redfeather,  who  was  the  only  pure  native  in  the 
brigade,  acknowledged  the  compliment  with  a  smile. 

"  Ah  1  oui,"  said  the  guide,  whose  features  had  now 
lost  their  stern  expression.  **  Them  Injins  are  always 
ready  enough  with  their  knives.  It's  not  the  first  time 
my  life  has  been  saved  by  the  knife  of  a  redskin." 

"  Humph  !  bad  luck  to  them,"  muttered  Mike  Brady  ; 
" its  not  the  firat  time  that  my  windpipe  has  been  pretty 
near  spiflicated  by  the  knives  o'  the  redskins,  the  mur- 
therin'  varmints!" 

As  Mike  gave  vent  to  this  malediction,  the  boat  ran 
swiftly  past  a  low  rocky  point,  over  which  the  surf  was 
breaking  wildly. 

"Down  with  the  sail,  Mike,"  cried  the  guide,  at  the 
same  time  putting  the  helm  hard  up.  The  boat  flew 
round  obedient  to  the  ruling  power,  made  one  last  plunge 
as  it  left  the  rolling  surf  behind,  and  slid  gently  and 
smoothly  into  still  water  under  the  lee  of  the  point. 

Here,  in  the  snug  shelter  of  a  little  bay,  two  of  the 
other  boats  were  found,  with  their  prows  already  on  the 

10 


»  * 


r " 


138 


SNOWFLAKIIS  AND  SLNUKAM.H 


beach,  and  their  crows  actively  employed  in  landing 
their  goods,  opening  bales  that  had  received  damage  from 
the  water,  and  preparing  the  encampment  \  while  ever 
and  anon  they  paused  a  moment,  to  watch  the  various 
boats  as  they  flew  before  the  gale,  and  one  by  one  doubleil 
the  friendly  promontory. 

If  there  is  one  thing  that  provokes  a  voyageur  more 
than  another,  it  is  being  wind-bound  on  the  shores  of 
a  large  lake.  Kain  or  sleet,  heat  or  cold,  icicles  forming 
on  the  oai-s,  or  a  broiling  sun.  glaring  in  a  cloudless  sky, 
tlie  stings  of  sand-flies,  or  the  sharp  probes  of  a  million 
mosquitoes,  he  will  bear  with  comparative  indifterenco ; 
]jnt  being  detained  by  high  wind  for  two,  three,  or  four 
days  together — lying  inactively  on  shore,  when  everything 
else,  it  may  be,  is  favourable — the  sun  bright,  the  sky 
blue,  the  air  invigorating,  and  all  but  the  wind  propitious — 
is  more  than  his  philosophy  can  carry  him  through  with 
equanimity.  He  grumbles  at  it ;  sometimes  makes  believe 
to  laugh  at  it ;  very  often,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  swear's 
at  it ;  does  his  best  to  sleep  through  it,  but,  whatever  he 
does,  he  does  with  a  bad  gi'ace,  because  he's  in  a  bad 
humour  and  can't  stand  it. 

For  the  next  three  days  this  was  the  fate  of  our  friends. 
Part  of  the  time  it  rained,  when  the  whole  party  slept  as 
nnich  as  was  possible,  and  then  endeavoured  to  sleep  more 
than  was  possible,  under  the  shelter  afforded  by  the 
si)reading  branches  of  the  trees.  Part  of  the  time  was 
fair,  with  occasional  gleams  of  sunshine,  when  the  men 
turned  out  to  eat,  and  smoke,  and  gamble  round  the  fires; 
and  the  two  friends  sauntered  down  to  a  sheltered  place 
on  the  shore,  sunned  themselves  in  a  warm  nook  among 
the    rocks,   while   they   gazed    ruefully    at    the   foaming 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


139 


billows,  told  endless  stories  of  what  they  had  dono  in 
time  past,  and  equally  endless  prospective  adventures  that 
tliey  earnestly  hoped  should  befall  them  in  time  to  come. 

While  they  were  thus  engaged,  Redfeather,  the  In<lian 
who  had  cut  the  ropes  so  opi)ortunely  during  the  storm, 
walked  down  to  the  shore,  and  sitting  down  ^d  a  rock 
not  far  distant,  fell  apparently  into  a  reverie. 

"  I  like  that  fellow,"  said  Hany,  pointju^r  io  t}\v, 
Indian. 

"  So  do  I.  He's  a  sharp,  active  man.  il.vd  it  ixot 
been  for  him  we  should  have  had  to  swim  for 


,t " 


u 


Indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  him,  I  ttbould  Lave  ha'l 
to  sink  for  it,"  said  Harry,  with  a  .smile,  '■'  for  1  cun't 
swim." 

"  Ah,  true,  I  forgot  that.  I  wonder  what  tlie  rod- 
skin,  as  the  guide  calls  him,  is  thinking  about,  added 
Charley,  in  a  musing  tone. 

"  Of  home,  perhaps,  'sweet  home,'"  said  Ilany  \nth 
a  sigh.  "Do  you  think  much  of  homo,  Charley,  now  '^hat 
you  have  left  it  ? " 

Charley  did  not  reply  for  a  few  seconds.  He  seemed 
to  muse  over  the  question. 

At  last  he  said,  slowly — 

"  Think  of  home  1  I  think  of  little  r.-lsy  wh  jl  ;■  atr  not 
talking  with  you,  Harry.  My  dear  mothar  is  always  in 
juy  thoughts,  and  my  poor  old  fatlier.  Home,  ay,  and 
darling  Kate,  too,  is  at  my  nil  aw  night  and  day,  with  the 
tears  streaming  from  I\er  e^es,  and  her  ringlets  scattered 
over  my  shoulder,  as  I  saw  her  the  day  we  parted, 
beckoning  me  back  again,  or  reproaching  me  for  having 
gone  away— God  bless  her !  Yes,  I  often,  very  often, 
think  of  home,  Hany." 


140 


SNOWrLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Harry  made  no  reply.  His  friend's  words  had  directed 
his  thoughts  to  a  very  different  and  far  distant  scene — to 
another  Kate,  and  another  father  and  mother,  who  lived 
in  a  glen  far  away  over  the  waters  of  the  broad  Atlantic. 
He  thought  of  them  as  they  used  to  be  when  he  was  one 
of  the  number,  a  unit  in  the  beloved  circle,  whose  absence 
would  have  caused  a  blank  there.  He  thought  of  the 
kind  voice  that  used  to  read  the  Word  of  God,  and  the 
tender  kiss  of  his  mother  as  they  2>iiiied  for  the  night. 
He  thoiight  of  the  dreary  day  when  he  left  them  all 
behind,  and  sailed  away,  in  the  midst  of  strangers,  across 
the  wide  ocean  to  a  strange  land.  He  thought  of  them 
now — without  him — accustomed  to  his  absence,  and  forget- 
ful, peAaps,  at  times,  that  he  had  once  been  there.  As 
he  thought  of  all  this,  a  tear  rolled  down  his  cheek,  and 
when  Charley  looked  up  in  his  face,  that  tear-drop  told 
plainly  that  he  too  thought  sometimes  of  home. 

"  Let  us  ask  Redfeather  to  tell  us  something  about  the 
Indians,"  he  said,  at  length,  rousing  himself.  "  I  have  no 
doubt  he  has  had  many  adventures  in  his  life ;  shall  we, 
Chariey  ? " 

"  By  all  means.  Ho,  Hedfeather !  are  you  trying  to 
stop  the  wind  by  looking  it  out  of  countenance  1 " 

The  Indian  rose  and  walked  towards  the  spot  where 
the  boys  lay. 

"  What  was  Redfeather  thinking  about,"  said  Charley, 
adopting  the  somewhat  pompous  style  of  speech  occasion- 
ally used  by  Indians.  "  Was  he  thinking  of  the  white 
swan  and  his  little  ones  in  the  prairie ;  or  did  he  dream  of 
giving  his  enemies  a  good  licking  the  next  time  he  meets 
them?" 

"  Redfeather   has  no   enemies,''   replied   the  Indiuu, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


141 


ft  them  all 


"  He  was  thinking  of  the  great  Manito,*  who  made  the 
wild  winds,  and  the  great  lakes,  and  the  forest." 

"  And,  pray,  good  Redfeather,  what  did  your  thoughts 
tell  you  ? " 

"  They  told  me  that  men  are  very  weak,  and  very 
foolish,  and  wicked ;  and  that  Manito  is  very  good  and 
patient  to  let  them  live." 

"  That  is  to  say,"  cried  Harry,  who  was  surprised  and 
a  little  nettled  to  hear  what  he  called  the  heads  of  a  ser- 
mon from  a  redskin,  "  that  you,  being  a  man,  are  very 
weak,  and  very  foolish,  and  wicked,  and  that  Manito  is 
very  good  and  patient  to  let  you  live  ? " 

"  Good,"  said  the  Indian,  calmly ;  "  that  is  what  I 
mean." 

"  Come,  Redfeather,"  said  Charley,  laying  his  hand  on 
the  Indian's  arm,  "  sit  down  beside  us,  and  tell  us  some 
of  your  adventures.  I  know  that  you  must  have  had 
plenty,  and  it's  quite  clear  that  we're  not  to  get  away 
from  this  place  all  day,  so  you've  nothing  better  to  do." 

The  Indian  readily  assented,  and  began  his  story  in 
English. 

Redfeather  was  one  of  the  very  few  Indians  who  had 
acquired  the  power  of  speaking  the  English  language. 
Having  been,  while  ii  jouth,  brought  much  into  contact 
with  the  fur-traders ;  and,  having  been  induced  by  them 
to  enter  their  service  for  a  time,  he  had  picked  up  enough 
of  English  to  make  himself  easily  undei-stood.  Being 
engaged  at  a  later  period  of  life  as  guide  to  one  of  the 
exploring  parties  sent  out  by  the  British  Government  to 
discover  the  famous  Noi*th-west  Passage,  he  had  learned 
to  read  and  write,  and  had  become  so  much  accustomed 

•  God. 


142 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


\ 


!J 


to  the  habits  and  occupations  of  the  "  pale-faces,"  that  he 
spent  more  of  his  time,  in  one  way  or  another,  with 
them  than  in  the  society  of  his  tribe,  which  dwelt  in  the 
thick  woods  bordering  on  one  of  the  great  prairies  of  the 
interior.  He  was  about  thirty  years  of  age ;  had  a  tall, 
thin,  but  wiry  and  powerful  frame,  and  was  of  a  mild, 
retiring  disposition.  His  face  wore  a  habitually  grave 
expression,  verging  towards  melancholy ;  induced,  pro- 
bably, by  the  vicissitudes  of  a  wild  life  (in  which  he  had 
seen  much  of  the  rugged  side  of  nature  in  men  and 
things),  acting  upon  a  sensitive  heart  and  a  naturally  warm 
temperament.  Redfeather,  however,  was  by  no  means 
morose, ;  and  when  seated  along  with  his  Canadian  com- 
rades round  the  camp  fire,  he  listened  with  evidently 
genuine  interest  to  their  stories,  and  entered  into  the 
spirit  of  their  jests.  But  he  was  always  an  auditor,  and 
rarely  took  part  in  their  conversatiqns.  He  was  fre- 
quently consulted  by  the  guide  in  matters  of  difficulty, 
and  it  was  obsei-ved  that  the  "  redskin's  "  opinion  always 
carried  much  weight  with  it,  although  it  was  seldom 
given  unless  asked  for.  The  men  respected  him  much 
because  he  was  a  hard  worker,  obliging,  and  modest, — 
three  qualities  that  insure  respect,  whether  found  under  a 
red  skin  or  a  white  one. 

"  I  shall  tell  you,"  he  began,  in  a  soft  musing  tone,  as  if 
he  were  wandering  in  memories  of  the  past ;  "  I  shall  tell 
you  how  it  was  that  I  came  by  the  name  of  Eedfeather." 

"  Ah  ! "  interrupted  Charley,  "  I  intended  to  ask  you 
about  that ;  you  don't  wear  one." 

"  I  did  once.  My  father  was  a  great  warrior  in  liis 
tribe,"  continued  the  Indian ;  "  and  I  was  but  a  youth 
when  I  got  the  name. 


FROM  TUE  FAR  NORTH. 


ir3 


es,"  that  he 
other,  with 

welt  in  the 
iries  of  the 

had  a  tall, 

of  a  mild, 
iially  grave 
dueed,  pro- 
lich  he  had 
I  men  and 
irally  warm 

no  means 
adian  com- 
i  evidently 
d  into  the 
uditor,  and 
[e  was  fre- 
r  difficulty, 
ion  always 
vas  seldom 
him  much 
modest, — 
Qd  under  a 

tone,  as  if 
I  shall  tell 
sdfeather." 
;o  ask  you 

■ior  in  liis 
it  a  youth 


4 


"  My  tribe  was  at  war  at  the  tine  vith  the  Chipewyans, 
and  one  of  our  scouts  having  come  ixi  with  the  intelligence 
that  a  party  of  our  enemies  was  in  the  neighbourhood, 
our  warriors  armed  themselves  to  go  in  pursuit  of  them. 
I  had  been  out  once  before  with  a  war-party,  but  had  not 
been  successful,  as  the  enemy's  scouts  gave  notice  of  our 
approach  in  time  to  enable  them  to  escape.  At  the  time 
the  information  was  brought  to  us,  the  young  men  of  our 
village  were  amusing  themselves  with  athletic  games,  and 
loud  challenges  were  being  given  and  accepted  to  wrestle, 
or  race,  or  swim  in  the  deep  water  of  the  river,  which 
flowed  calmly  past  the  green  bank  on  which  our  wigwams 
stood.  On  a  uank  near  to  us  sat  about  a  dozen  of  our 
women, — some  employed  in  ornamenting  moccasins  with 
coloured  porcupine-quills ;  othere  making  rogans  of  bark 
for  maple  sugar,  or  nui*sing  their  young  infants  ;  while  a 
few,  chiefly  the  old  women,  groiiped  themselves  together 
and  kept  up  an  incessant  chattering,  chiefly  with  refer- 
ence to  the  doings  of  the  young  men. 

"  Apart  from  these  stood  three  or  four  of  the  principal 
men  of  our  tribe,  smoking  their  pipes,  and  although 
appai'cntly  engrossed  in  conversation,  still  evidently  inter- 
ested in  what  was  going  forward  on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

"  Among  the  young  men  assembled,  there  was  one  of 
about  my  own  age,  who  had  taken  a  violent  dislike  to 
me,  because  the  most  beautiful  girl  in  all  the  village  pre- 
ferred me  before  him.  His  name  was  Misconna.  He  was 
a  hot-tempered,  ciaiel  youth ;  and  although  I  endeavoured 
as  much  as  possible  to  keep  out  ol  his  way,  he  sought 
every  opportunity  of  picking  a  quarrel  with  me.  I  had 
j\ist  been  running  a  race  along  with  several  other  youths, 
and,   although   not   the   winner,    I   had   kept  ahead  of 


1 


144 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Mist;onna  all  the  distance.  He  now  stood  leaning  against 
a  tree,  burning  witli  rage  and  disappointment.  I  was  sorry 
for  tliis,  because  I  bore  him  no -ill  will,  and,  if  it  had 
occuiTed  to  me  at  the  time,  1  would  have  allowed  him  to 
pass  me,  since  I  was  unable  to  gain  the  race  at  any  rate. 

"  '  Dog  ! '  he  said,  at  length,  steppii^'*  forward  and  con- 
fronting me,  '  will  you  wrestle  V 

"  Just  as  he  approached,  I  had  turned  round  to  leave 
the  place.  Not  wishing  to  have  more  to  do  with  him,  I 
j)retended  not  to  hear,  and  made  a  step  or  two  towards 
the  lodges.  *  Dog  !*  he  cried  again,  while  lii^  eyes 
flashed  fiercely,  and  he  grasped  me  by  the  arm,  '  will 
you  wrestle,  or  are  you  afraid?  Has  the  bi*ave  boy's 
heart  changed  into  that  of  a  girl  V 

"  *  No,  Misconna,'  said  I.  *  You  know  that  I  am  not 
afraid ;  but  I  have  no  desire  to  quarrel  with  you.' 

"'You  lie!'  cried  he,  with  a  cold  sneer;  'you  are 
affaid — and  see,'  he  added,  pointing  towards  the  women 
with  a  triumphant  smile,  '  the  dark-eyed  girl  sees  it  and 
believes  it,  too  !' 

"  I  turned  to  look,  and  there  I  saw  Wabisca  gazing  on 
me  with  a  look  of  blank  amazement.  I  could  see,  also,  that 
several  of  the  other  women,  and  some  of  my  companions, 
shared  in  her  surprise. 

"  With  a  burst  of  anger  I  turned  round.  *  No,  Mis- 
conna,' said  I,  *I  am  not  afraid,  as  you  shall  find ;'  and, 
springing  upon  him,  I  grasped  him  round  the  body.  He 
was  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  strong  a  youth  as  myself;  but 
I  was  burning  with  indignation  at  the  insolence  of  his 
conduct  before  so  many  of  the  women,  which  gave  me 
more  than  usual  energy.  For  several  minutes  we  swayed 
to  and  fro,  eacii  endeavouring  in  vain  to  bend  the  other's 


^sp 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


145 


Lh,ck  ;  but  we  were  too  well  matched  for  this,  and  sought 
t>j  accomplish  our  purpose  by  taking  advantage  of  au 
unguarded  movement.  At  last  such  a  movement 
occurred.  My  advei-sary  made  a  sudden  and  violent 
attempt  to  throw  me  to  the  left,  hoping  that  an  inequa- 
lity in  the  ground  would  favour  his  effort.  But  he  was 
mistaken.  I  had  seen  the  danger,  and  was  prepared  for 
it;  so  that  the  instant  lie  attempted  it,  I  threw  forward 
my  right  leg,  and  thrust  him  backwards  with  all  my 
might.  Misconna  was  quick  in  his  motions.  He  saw 
my  intention, — too  late,  indeed,  to  prevent  it  altogether, 
l)ut  in  time  to  throw  back  his  left  foot  and  stiffen  his 
body  till  it  felt  like  a  block  of  stone.  The  effort  waa 
now  entirely  one  of  endurance.  We  stood,  each  with  his 
nmscles  strained  to  the  utmost,  withoixt  the  slightest 
motion.  At  length  I  felt  my  adversary  give  way  a  little. 
Slight  though  the  motion  was,  it  instantly  removed  all 
doubt  as  to  who  should  go  down.  My  heart  gave  a 
bound  of  exidtation,  and,  with  the  energy  which  such  a 
feeling  always  inspires,  I  put  forth  all  my  strength,  threw 
him  heavily  over  on  his  back,  and  fell  upon  him. 

"A  shout  of  applause  from  my  comrades  greeted  me  as  I 
rose  and  left  the  ground ;  but  at  the  same  moment  the  at- 
tention of  all  was  taken  from  myself  arid  the  baffled  Mis- 
conna, by  the  arrival  of  the  scout,  bringing  us  information 
that  a  party  of  Chipewyans  were  in  the  neighbourhood.  In 
a  moment  all  was  bustle  and  preparation.  An  Indian  war- 
party  is  soon  got  ready.  Forty  of  our  braves  threw  off  the 
l>rincipal  parts  of  their  clothing  ;  painted  tlieir  faces  with 
stripes  of  vermilion  and  charcoal ;  armed  themselves  with 
guns,  bows,  tomahawks,  and  scalping-knives,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  left  the  camp  in  silence  and  at  a  quick  paco. 


M6 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"One  or  two  of  the  youths  who  had  been  playing  on  the 
river's  bank  were  permitted  to  accompany  the  party,  and 
among  these  were  Misconna  and  myself.  As  we  passed  a 
group  of  women,  assembled  to  see  us  depart,  I  observed 
the  girl  who  had  caused  so  much  jealousy  between  us. 
She  cast  down  her  eyes  as  we  came  up,  and  as  we 
advanced  close  to  the  group  she  dropt  a  white  feather,  as 
if  by  accident.  Stooping  hastily  down,  I  picked  it  up  in 
passing,  and  stuck  it  in  an  ornamented  band  that  bound 
my  hair.  As  we  hurried  on,  I  heard  two  or  three  old 
hags  laugh,  and  say,  with  a  sneer,  '  His  hand  is  as  white 
as  the  feather  :  it  has  never  seen  blood.'  The  next 
moment  we  were  ^.id  in  the  forest,  and  pursued  our  rapid 

r 

coui*se  in  dead  silence. 

"The  country  through  which  we  passed  was  varied, — 
extending  in  broken  bits  of  open  prairie,  and  partly 
covered  with  thick  wood;  yet  not  so  thick  as  to  offer,  any 
hindrance  to  our  march.  "We  walked  in  single  file,  each 
treading  in  his  comrade's  footsteps,  while  the  band  was 
headed  by  the  scout  who  had  brought  the  information. 
The  principal  chief  of  our  tribe  came  next,  and  he  was 
followed  by  ti\e  braves  according  to  their  age  or  influence. 
Misconna  and  I  brought  up  the  rear.  The  sun  was  just 
sinking  as  we  left  the  belt  of  woodland  in  which  our 
village  stood,  crossed  over  a  short  plain,  descended  a  dark 
hollow,  at  the  bottom  of  which  the  river  flowed,  and, 
following  its  course  for  a  considerable  distance,  turned  off 
to  the  right  and  emerged  upon  a  sweep  of  prairie  land. 
Here  the  scout  halted,  and  taking  the  chief  and  two  or 
three  .braves  aside,  entered  into  earnest  consultation  with 
them. 

"  What  they  said  we  could  not  hear  j  but  as  we  stood 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


l47 


leaning  on  our  guns  in  the  deep  shade  of  the  forest,  we 
could  observe  by  their  animated  gestures  that  they  dif- 
fered   in    opinion.      We    saw   that    the   scout    pointed 
several  times  to  the  moon,  which  was  just  rising  above  the 
tree-tops,  and  then  to  the  distant  horizon,  but  the  chief 
shook  his  head,  pointed  to  the  woods,  and  seemed  to  be 
much  in  doubt,  while  the  whole  band  watched  his  mo- 
tions in  deep  silence,  but  evident  interest.     At  length 
they  ajipeared  to  agi'ee.     The  scout  took  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  line,   and  we  resumed  our  march,   keeping 
close  to  the  margin  of  the  wood.     It  was  perhaps  three 
hours  after  this  ere  we  again  halted  to  hold  another  con- 
sultation.    This  time   their   deliberations   were  shorter. 
In  a  few  seconds,   our  chief  himself  took  the  lead  and 
turned  into  the  woods,  through  which  he  guided  us  to  a 
small  fountain,  which  bubbled  up  at  the  root  of  a  birch- 
tree,  where  there  was  a  smooth  green  spot  of  level  ground. 
Here  we  halted,  and  prepared  to  rest  for  an  hour,  at  the 
end  of  which  time,  the  moon,  which  now  shone  bright  and 
full  in  the  clear  sky,  would  bo  nearly  down,  and  we  could 
resume  our  march.     We  now  sat  down  in  a  circle,  and, 
taking  a  hasty  mouthful  of  dried  meat,   stretched  our- 
selves on  the  ground  with  our  arms  beside  us,  while  our 
chief  kept   watch,    leaning   against   the   birch-tree.     It 
seemed  as   if  I  had  scarcely  been  asleep  five  minutes 
when  I  felt  a  light  touch  on  my  shoulder.     Springing  up, 
I   found   the  whole   party  already  astir,  and,  in   a  few 
minutes  more,  we  were  again  huiTying  onwards. 

"  We  travelled  thus  until  a  faint  light  in  the  east  told 
us  that  the  day  was  at  hand,  when  the  scout's  steps 
became  more  cautious,  and  he  paused  to  examine  the 
ground  frequently.     At  last  we  came  to  a  place  where 


\->t 


148 


8KOWFLAKE9  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I        fM 


the  gro\md  sank  slightly,  and,  at  the  distance  of  a  hun- 
dred yards,  rose  again,  forming  a  low  ridge  which  was 
crowned  with  small  bushes.     Here  we  came  to  a  halt, 
and  were  told  that  our  enemies  were  on  the  other  side  of 
that  ridge,  that  they  were  about  twenty  in  number,  all 
Chipewyan  warriors,  with  the  exception  of  one  pale-face, 
—  a  trapper,    and    his    Indian   wife.       The   scout   had 
learned,  while  lying  like  a  snake  in  the  grass  around 
their  camp,  that  this  man  was  merely  travelling  Avith 
them  on  his  way  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  that,  as 
they  were  a  war-party,  he  intended  to  leave  them  soon. 
On  hearing  this  the  warriors  gave  a  grim  smile,  and  our 
chief,  directing  the  scout  to  fall  behind,  cautiously  led 
the  way  to  the  top  of  the  ridge.     On  reaching  it  we  saw 
a  valley  of  great  extent,  dotted  with  trees  and  shrubs, 
and  watered  by  one  of  the  many  rivers  that  flow  into  the 
great  Saskatchewan.     It  was  nearly  dark,  however,  and 
we  could  only  get  an  indistinct  view  of  the  land.     Far 
ahead  of  us,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  stream,  and  close  to 
its  margin,  we  saw  the  faint  red  light  of  watch-fires, 
which  caused  us  some  surprise,  for  watch-fires  are  never 
lighted  by  a  war-pai*ty  so  near  to  an  enemy's  countiy. 
So  we  could  only  conjecture  that  they  were  quite  ignor- 
ant of  our  being  in  that  part  of  the  country — which  was, 
indeed,  not  unlikely,  seeing  that  we  had  shifted  our  camp 
during  the  summer. 

"  Our  chief  now  made  arrangements  for  the  attack.  We 
were  directed  to  separate  and  approach  individually  as 
near  to  the  camp  as  was  possible  without  risk  of  dis- 
covery, and  then,  taking  up  an  advantageous  position,  to 
await  our  chief's  signal — which  was  to  be  the  hooting  of 
an  owl.      We  immediately  separated.      My  course  lay 


FIIOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


149 


along  the  banks  of  the  stream,  and,  as  I  strode  rapidly 
along,  listening  to  its  low  solemn  murmur,  which  sounded 
clear  and  distinct  in  the  stillness  of  a  calm  summer  nijrht, 
T  :,ould  not  helj)  feeling  as  if  it  were  reproaching  me  for 
the  bloody  work  I  was  hastening  to  perform.  Then  the 
recollection  of  what  the  old  women  said  of  me,  raised  a 
desperate  spirit  in  my  heart.  Remembering  the  white 
feather  in  my  head,  I  grasped  my  gun  and  quickened  my 
pace.  As  I  neared  the  camp,  I  went  into  the  woods  and 
climbed  a  low  hillock  to  look  out.  I  found  that  it  still 
lay  about  five  hundred  yards  distant,  and  that  the  greater 
part  of  the  ground  between  it  and  the  place  where  I 
stood,  was  quite  flat,  and  without  cover  of  any  kind.  I 
therefore  prepared  to  creep  towards  it,  although  the 
attempt  was  likely  to  be  attended  with  great  danger,  for 
Chipe^vyans  have  quick  ears  and  shai*p  eyes.  Observing, 
however,  that  the  river  ran  close  past  the  camp,  I  deter- 
mined to  follow  its  course  as  before.  In  a  few  seconds 
more,  I  came  to  a  dark  narrow  gap  where  the  river  flowed 
between  broken  rocks,  overhung  by  branches,  and  from 
which  I  could  obtain  a  clear  view  of  the  camp  within 
fifty  yards  of  me.  Examining  the  priming  of  my  gun,  I 
i>at  down  on  a  rock  to  await  the  chiefs  signal. 

"It  was  evident,  from  the  careless  manner  in  which  the 
fires  were  placed,  that  no  enemy  was  supposed  to  be  near. 
From  my  concealment  I  could  plainly  distinguish  ten  or 
fifteen  of  the  sleeping  forms  of  our  enemies,  among  which 
the  trapper  was  conspicuous,  from  his  superior  bulk,  and 
the  reckless  way  in  which  his  brawny  arms  were  flung  on 
the  turf,  while  his  right  hand  clutched  his  rifle.  I  could 
not  but  smile  as  I  thought  of  the  proud  boldness  of  the 
palc-facc— lying  all  exposed  to  view  in  the  graj  light  of 


150 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I  '     ! 


i 


dawn,  while  an  Indian's  rifle  was  so  close  at  hand.  One 
Indian  kept  watch,  but  he  seemed  more  than  half  asleep. 
1  had  not  sat  more  than  a  minute,  when  my  observations 
were  interrupted  by  the  cracking  of  a  branch  in  the 
bushes  near  me.  Starting  up,  I  was  about  to  boimd  into 
the  underwood,  when  a  figure  sprang  down  the  bank  and 
rapidly  approached  me.  My  first  impulse  was  to  throw 
forward  my  gun,  but  a  glance  sufiiced  to  shew  me  that  it 
was  a  woman. 

"'Wall!'  I  exclaimed,  in  surprise,  as  she  hurried  for- 
ward and  laid  her  hand  on  my  shoulder.  She  was  dressed 
]>artly  in  the  costume  of  the  Indians,  but  wore  a  shawl 
on  her  shoulders,  and  a  handkerchief  on  her  head,  that 
shewed  fehe  had  been  in  the  settlements ;  and,  from  the 
lightness  of  her  skin  and  hair,  I  judged  at  once  that  she 
was  the  trapper's  wife  of  whom  I  had  heard  the  scout 
.speak. 

*' '  Has  the  light-hair  got  a  medicine  bag,  or  does  she 
speak  with  spirits,  that  she  has  found  me  so  easily  V 

"  The  girl  looked  anxiously  up  in  my  face  as  if  to  read 
my  thoughts,  and  then  said,  in  a  low  voice — 

"  *  No,  I  neither  carry  the  medicine  bag  nor  hold  palaver 
vriih.  spirits ;  but  I  do  think  the  good  Manito  must  have 
led  me  here.  I  wandered  into  the  woods  because  I  could 
not  sleep,  and  I  saw  you  pass.  But  tell  me,'  she  added 
with  still  deeper  anxiety,  *  does  the  white  feather  come 
alone  1  Does  he  approach  friends  during  the  dark  hours 
with  a  soft  step  like  a  fox  ? ' 

"  Feeling  the  necessity  of  detaining  her  until  my  com- 
rades should  have  time  to  suri'ound  the  camp,  I  said — 
*  The  white  feather  hunts  far  from  his  lands.     He  sees 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


lol 


Indians  whom  lie  does  ncit  know,  and  must  approach  witli 
a  liglit  step.     Perhaps  tliey  are  enemies.' 

"  '  Do  Knisteneux  Imnt  at  night,  prowling  in  the  bed 
of  a  stream  1 '  said  the  girl,  still  regarding  me  with  a  keen 
glance.  *  Speak  truth,  stranger '  (and  she  started  sud- 
tlenly  back) ;  *  in  a  moment  I  can  alarm  tlie  camp  with 
a  cry,  and  if  your  tongue  is  forked  ! — but  I  do  not  wish 
to  bring  enemies  upon  you,  if  they  are  indeed  such.  I 
am  not  one  of  them.  My  husband  and  I  travel  with 
them  for  a  time.  We  do  not  desire  to  see  blood.  Goil 
knows,'  she  added,  in  French,  which  seemed  her  native 
tongue,  *  I  have  seen  enough  of  that  already.' 

"  As  her  earnest  eyes  looked  into  my  face,  a  sudden 
thought  occurred  to  me.  *  Go,'  said  I,  hiistily,  *  tell 
your  husband  to  leave  the  camp  instantly,  and  meet  me 
here ;  and  see  that  the  Chipewyans  do  not  observe  your 
departure.  Quick !  his  life  and  yours  may  depend  on 
your  speed.' 

"  The  girl  instantly  comprehended  my  meaning.  In  a 
m()ment  she  sprang  up  the  bank ;  but  as  she  did  so,  the 
loud  report  of  a  gun  was  heard,  followed,  by  a  yell,  and 
the  war-whoop  of  the  Knisteneux  rent  the  air  as  they 
rushed  upon  the  devoted  camp,  sending  arrows  and  bullets 
before  them. 

"On  the  instant,  I  sprang  after  the  girl  and  grasped  her 
by  the  arm.  *Stay,  white-cheek,  it  is  too  late  now. 
You  cannot  save  your  husband,  but  I  think  he'll  save 
himself.  I  saw  him  dive  into  the  bushes  like  a  carriboo. 
Hide  yourself  here,  perhaps  you  may  escape.' 

"  The  half-breed  girl  sank  on  a  fallen  tree  with  a  deep 
groan,  and  clasped  her  hands  convulsively  before  her  eyes, 


152 


8N0WFLAKES  AND  SUNDEAM8 


while  I  boundcMl  over  tlio  tri'O,  intending  to  join  my  com- 
radoa  in  piirsiiing  the  enemy.  \ 

"As  I  did  so  a  slirill  cry  arose  behind  me,  and,  looking 
hack,  I  beheUl  the  trapper's  wife  prostrate  on  tlie  ground, 
and  Misconna  standing  over  her,  liis  spear  uidifted,  and  a 
fierce  frown  on  his  dark  face. 

"  *  Hokl,'  I  cried,  mshing  hack  and  seizing  his  arm. 
'  Misconna  did  not  come  to  kill  ivomen.  She  is  not  onr 
enemy.' 

"  *  Does  tlie  young  wrestler  want  another  wife  ?'  he  said 
with  a  wild  laugh,  at  the  same  time  wrenching  his  arm 
from  my  gripe,  and  driving  his  spoar  through  the  fleshy 
jmrt  of  the  woman's  breast  and  deep  into  the  ground.  A 
shriek  rent  the  air  as  he  drew  it  out  again  to  repeat  the 
thrust ;  but,  before  he  could  do  so,  I  struck  aim  with  the 
butt  of  my  gun  on  the  head.  Staggering  backwards,  he 
fell  heavily  among  the  bushes.  At  this  moment  a  second 
whoop  rang  out,  and  another  of  our  band  sprang  from  the 
thicket  that  surrounded  us.  Seeing  no  one  but  myself 
and  the  bleeding  girl,  he  gave  me  a  short  glance  of  sur- 
prise, as  if  he  wondered  why  I  did  not  finish  the  work 
which  he  evidently  supposed  I  had  begun. 

"  *  Wah  ! '  he  exclaimed  ;  and  uttering  another  yell 
plunged  his  spear  into  the  woman's  breast,  despite  my 
efforts  to  prevent  him — this  time  with  more  deadly  effect, 
as  the  blood  spouted  from  the  wound,  while  she  uttered  a 
piercing  scream,  and  twined  her  arms  round  my  legs  as  I 
stood  beside  her,  as  if  imploring  for  mercy.  Poor  girl !  I 
saw  that  she  was  past  my  help.  The  wound  was  evidently 
mortal.  Already  the  signs  of  death  overspread  her  fea- 
tures, and  I  felt  that  a  second  blow  would  be  one  of  mercy ; 
so  that  when  the  Indian  stooped  and  passed  his  long  knife 


> 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


153 


ihrotigh  her  lirart,  I  made  but  a  feeble  effort  to  prevent 
it.  Just  as  the  man  rose,  with  the  warm  blood  dripping 
from  his  keen  blade,  the  sharp  crack  of  a  rifle  was  heard, 
and  the  Indian  fell  dead  at  my  feet,  shot  through  the 
forehead,  while  the  trapper  bounded  into  the  open  space, 
his  ma-ssive  frame  quivering,  and  his  sunburnt  face  dis- 
torted with  rage  and  horror.  From  the  other  side  of  the 
brake,  six  of  our  band  rushed  fonvard  and  levelled  their 
guns  at  him.  For  one  moment  the  trapper  paused  to 
cast  a  glance  at  the  mangled  corpse  of  his  wife,  as  if  to 
make  quite  sure  that  she  was  dead ;  and  then  uttering  a 
howl  of  desjiair,  he  hurled  his  axe  with  a  giant's  force  at 
the  Knisteneux,  and  disappeared  over  the  precipitous 
bank  of  the  stream. 

"  So  rapid  was  the  action,  that  the  volley  which  imme- 
ately  succeeded  passed  harmlessly  over  his  head,  while 
the  Indians  dashed  forward  in  pursuit.  At  the  same 
instant  I  myself  was  felled  to  the  earth.  The  axe  which 
the  trapper  had  flung  struck  a  tree  in  its  flight,  and,  as  it 
glanced  off,  the  handle  gave  me  a  violent  blow  in  passing. 
I  fell  stunned.  As  I  did  so,  my  head  alighted  on  the 
shoulder  of  the  woman,  and  the  last  thing  I  felt,  as  my 
wandering  senses  forsook  me,  was  her  still  warm  blood 
flowing  over  my  face  and  neck. 

"  Wliile  this  scene  was  going  on,  the  yells  and  screams 
of  the  wamors  in  the  camp  became  fainter  and  fainter  as 
they  pursued  and  fled  through  the  woods.  The  whole 
band  of  Chipewyans  was  entirely  routed,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  four  who  escaped,  and  the  trapper  whose  flight  I 
have  described  ;  all  the  rest  were  slain,  and  their  scalps 
hung  at  the  belts  of  the  victorious  Knisteneux  warriors, 
while  only  one  of  our  party  was  killed. 

11 


-  r» 


'  i  - 


l.U 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


1 

■■ 

B 

'  1 

H 

m 

1' 

n 

HI 

M 

"  Not  more  than  a  few  minutes  after  receiving  the  blow 
that  stunned  me,  I  recovered,  and  rising  as  hastily  as  my 
scattered  faculties  would  permit  me,  I  staggered  towards 
the  camp,  where  I  heard  the  shouts  of  our  men  as  they 
collected  the  arms  of  their  enemies.  As  I  rose,  the 
feather  which  Wabisca  had  dropped  fell  from  n>y  brow, 
and,  as  I  picked  it  up  to  replace  it,  I  perceived  that  it 
was  reJ;  being  entirely  covered  with  the  blood  of  the  half- 
breed  girl. 

"  The  i)lace  where  Misconna  had  fallen  was  vacant  as  T 
passed,  and  I  found  him  standing  among  his  comrades 
round  the  camp  fires,  examining  the  guns  and  other 
article  which  they  had  collected.  He  gave  me  a  short 
glance  of  deep  hatred  as  I  passed,  and  tumud  his  head 
hastily  away.  A  few  minutes  sufficed  to  collect  the 
spoils,  and  so  rapidly  had  everything  been  done,  that  the 
light  of  day  was  still  faint  as  we  silently  returned  on  our 
track.  We  marched  in  the  same  order  as  before, 
Misconna  and  I  bringing  up  the  rear.  As  we  passed 
near  the  place  where  the  poor  woman  had  been  mur- 
dered, I  felt  a  strong  desire  to  return  to  the  spot.  I 
could  not  veiy  well  understand  the  feeling,  but  it  lay  so 
strong  upon  me,  that  when  Ave  reached  the  ridge  where 
we  first  came  in  sight  of  the  Chi[)ewyan  camp,  I  fell 
behind  until  my  companions  disa])peared  in  the  woods, 
and  then  inin  swiftly  back.  Just  as  I  was  about  to  step 
beyond  the  circle  of  bushes  that  surrounded  the  spot,  I  saw 
that  some  one  was  there  before  me.  It  was  a  man,  and, 
as  he  advanced  into  the  open  space  and  the  ligh+  fell  on  his 
face,  I  saw  that  it  was  the  ti-a])per.  No  doubt,  he  had 
watched  us  off  tlie  ground,  and  then,  when  all  was  safe, 
returned  to  biirj  his  wife.     I  crouolied  to  watch  him. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


lOS 


Stepping  slowly  up  to  the  body  of  his  murdered  wife,  he 
stood  beside  it  with  his  arms  folded  on  his  breast  and 
quite  motionless.  His  head  hung  down,  for  the  heart  of 
the  wliite  man  was  heavy,  and  I  could  see,  as  the  liglit 
increased,  that  his  brows  were  dark  as  the  thunder  cloud, 
and  the  corners  of  his  mouth  twitched  from  a  feeling  that 
the  Indian  scoriiS  to  shew.  My  heart  is  full  of  sorrow 
for  him  now ; "  (Redfeather's  voice  sank  as  he  spoke),  "  it 
was  full  of  sorrow  for  him  even  then,  when.  I  was  taught 
to  think  that  pity  for  an  enemy  was  unworthy  of  a  brave. 
The  trapper  stood  gazing  very  long.v  His  wife  was 
young  j  he  could  not  leave  her  yet.  At  length  a 
dee})  groan  burst  from  his  heart,  as  the  waters  of  a  great 
river,  long  held  down,  swell  up  in  spring,  and  burst  the 
ice  at  last.  Groan  followed  gi'oan  as  the  ti^pper  still 
stood  and  pressed  his  arms  on  his  broad  breast,  as  if  to 
crush  the  heart  within.  At  last  he  slowly  knelt  beside 
her,  bending  more  and  more  over  the  lifeless  form,  until 
he  lay  extended  on  the  ground  beside  it,  and,  twining 
liis  arms  round  the  neck,  he  drew  the  cold  cheek  close  to 
his  and  pressed  the  blood-covered  bosom  tighter  and 
tighter,  while  his  form  quivered  with  agony  as  he  gave 
her  a  last,  long  embrace.  Oh  ! "  continued  E,edfeather, 
while  his  brow  darkened,  and  his  black  eye  flashed  with 
an  expression  of  fierceness  that  his  youu^  listeners  had 

never  seen   before,  "  may  the  curse "  (he  i)aused), 

"  God  forgive  them!  how  could  they  know  better? 

"  At  length  the  trapper  rose  hastily.  The  cxi)ression 
of  his  brow  was  still  the  same,  but  his  mouth  was  altered. 
Till!  lips  were  pressed  tightly  like  those  of  a  brave  when 
It'd  to  toiliirc,  and  tliere  was  a  fierce  activity  in  his 
motions  as  iie  s]»i-ang  do^vll  the  bank  and  proceeded  to 


4  " 


156 


SNOWFLAKES  AKD  SUNBEAMS 


dig  a  hole  in  the  soft  earth.  For  half  an  hour  he 
laboured,  shovelling  away  the  earth  with  a  large  flat 
stone,  and  carrying  down  the  body,  he  buried  it  there, 
under  the  shadow  of  a  willow.  The  trapper  then 
shouldered  his  rifle  and  hurried  away.  On  reaching  the 
turn  of  the  stream  which  shuts  the  little  hollow  out  from 
view,  he  halted  suddenly,  gave  one  look  into  the  prairie  he 
was  henceforth  to  ti  ead  alone,  one  short  glance  back,  and 
then,  raising  both  arms  in  the  air,  looked  up  into  the  sky, 
while  he  stretched  liimself  to  his  full  height.  Even  at 
that  distance,  I  could  see  the  wild  glare  of  his  eye  and 
the  heaving  of  his  breast.  A  moment  after,  and  he  was 
gone." 

"  And  did  you  never  see  him  again  1 "  inquired  Harry 
Somervllle,  eagerly. 

"  No,  I  never  saw  him  more.  Immediately  afterwaids 
I  turned  to  rejoin  my  companions,  whom  I  soon  over- 
took, and  entered  our  village  along  with  them.  I  was 
regsu'ded  as  a  poor  warrior,  because  I  brought  home  no 
scalps,  and  ever  afterwards  I  went  by  the  name  of  Hed- 
fc.ather  in  our  tribe." 

"  But  are  you  still  thought  a  poor  warrior  1 "  asked 
Charley,  in  some  concern,  as  if  he  were  jealous  of  the 
reputation  of  his  new  friend. 

The  Indian  smiled.  "  No,"  he  said ;  "  our  village 
was  twice  attacked  afterwards,  and,  in  defending  it.  Red- 
feather  took  many  scalps.     He  was  made  a  chief ! " 

"  Ah ! "  cried  Chariey,  "  I'm  glad  of  that.  And 
Wabisca,  what  came  of  her  ?     Did  Misconna  get  her  ? " 

"  She  is  my  wife,"  replied  Redfeather. 

"  Your  wife  !  Why,  I  thought  I  heard  the  voyageurs 
call  your  wife  the  white  swan," 


I,t 


illage 
Red- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


157 


« 


Wabisca  is  white  in  the  language  of  the  Knisteneux. 
She  is  beautiful  in  form,  and  my  comrades  call  her  the 
white  swan." 

Redfeather  said  this  with  an  air  of  gratified  pride. 
He  did  not,  perhaps,  love  his  wife  with  more  fervour 
than  he  would  have  done,  had  he  remained  with  his 
tribe  ;  but  Redfeather  had  associated  a  great  deal  with 
the  traders,  and  he  had  imbibed  much  of  that  spirit 
which  prompts  "  white  men "  to  treat  their  females  with 
deference  and  respect,  a  feeling  which  is  very  foreign  to  an 
Indian's  bosom.  To  do  so  was,  besides,  more  congenial 
to  his  naturally  unselfish  and  afiectionate  disposition,  so 
that  any  flattering  allusion  to  his  partner  was  always 
received  by  him  with  immense  gratification. 

"  I'll  pay  you  a  visit  some  day,  Redfeather,  if  I'm  sent 
to  any  place  within  fifty  miles  of  your  tribe,"  said  Charley, 
with  the  air  of  one  who  had  fully  made  up  his  mind. 

"  And  Misconna  ? "  asked  Harrv. 

"Misconna  is  with  his  tribe,"  replied  the  Indian,  and 
a  frown  overspread  his  features  as  he  spoke  j  "  but  Red- 
feather  has  been  following  in  the  track  of  his  white  friends ; 
he  has  not  seen  his  nation  for  many  moons." 


i 


: 


158 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


: 

HI 

i 

^H  S 

r 

^B  1 

1 

1 

■ 

IB 

ii 

jl 

1 

>  hB 

11 

II    ! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Canoe.    Ascending  the  Rapids,    The  Porlage.    Deer  Shooting  and  Jjife  In 

the  Woods. 

"We  must  now  beg  the  patient  read'r  to  take  a  leap  with 
us,  not  only  through  space,  but  als(  /  through  time.  We 
must  pass  over  the  events  of  the  remainder  of  the  journey 
along  the  phore  of  Lake  Winipcg.  Unwilling  though 
we  are  to  omit  anything  in  the  history  of  our  friends  that 
would  be  likely  to  prove  interesting,  we  think  it  wise  not 
to  run  the  risk  of  being  tedious,  or  of  dwelling  too  minutely 
on  the  details  of  scenes  which  recall  p()^\  erfully  the  feelings 
and  memories  of  bygone  days  to  the  writer,  but  may, 
nevertheless,  appear  somewhat  flat  to  the  reader. 

We  shall  not,  therefore,  enlarge  ac  present  on  the  ar- 
rival of  the  boats  at  Norway  House,  wliich  lies  at  the 
north  end  of  the  lake,  nor  of  what  was  said  and  done  by 
our  friends  and  by  several  other  young  comrades  whora 
they  found  there.  We  shall  not  speak  of  the  horror  of 
Harry  Somerville,  and  the  extreme  disappointment  of  his 
friend  Charley  Kennedy,  when  the  former  was  told  that 
instead  of  hunting  grizzly  bears  up  the  Saskatchewan,  he 
was  condemned  to  the  desk  again,  at  York  Fort,  the  de- 
put  on  Hudson's  Bay,  a  low  swampy  i)lace  near  the  sea- 
shore, where  the  goods  for  the  interior  are  anniuilly  landed 
and  the  furs  shipped  for  England,  where  the  greater  part 
of  the  summer  and  much  of  the  winter  is  occupied  by  the 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


159 


clerks,  who  may  be  doomed  to  vegetate  there,  in  making 
up  the  accounts  of  what  is  termed  the  Northern  De- 
partment, and  where  the  brigades  converge  from  all  the 
wide-scattered  and  far  distant  outposts,  and  the  ship  from 
England — that  great  event  of  the  ye.ar — arrives,  keeping 
the  place  in  a  stute  of  constant  bustle  and  effervescence 
until  autumn,  when  ship  and  brigades  finally  depart, 
leaving  the  residents  (about  30  in  number)  shut  up  for 
eight  long,  dreary  months  of  winter — with  a  tenantlesa 
wilderness  around  and  behind  them,  and  the  wide,  l  •wi, 
frozen  sea  before.  This  was  among  the  first  of  Hany's 
disappointments.  He  suffered  many  aftei-wards,  poor 
fellow ! 

Neither  shall  we  accompany  Charley  up  the  south 
l)ranch  of  the  Sasikatchewan,  where  his  utmost  expectations 
in  the  way  of  hv;nting  were  more  than  realised,  and  where 
he  became  so  accustomed  to  shooting  ducks  and  geese,  and 
beai-s  and  buffaloes,  that  he  could  not  forbear  smiling  when 
lie  chanced  to  meet  with  a  red-logged  gull,  and  remem- 
bered how  he  and  his  friend  Harry  had  comported  them- 
pelves  when  they  ffret  met  with  these  birds  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Winipeg  !  We  shall  pass  over  all  this,  and  the 
summer,  autumn,  and  winter  too,  and  leap  at  once  into 
the  spring  of  the  following  year. 

On  a  very  bi  Ight,  cheery  morning  of  that  spring,  a  canoe 
might  have  been  seen  slowly  ascending  one  of  the  nu- 
mei'ous  streams  which  meander  through  a  richly-wooded, 
fertile  cotnitry,  and  mingle  their  waters  with  those  of  the 
Athabasca  river,  terminating  their  united  career  in  a 
large  lake  of  the  same  name.  The  canoe  was  small — one 
of  the  kind  used  by  the  natives  while  engaged  in  hunting, 
and  capable  of  holding  only  two  persons  conveniently,  with 


ICO 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


their  baggage.  To  any  one  unacquainted  with  the  nature 
or  capabilities  of  a  Ncrthern  Indian  canoe,  the  fragile, 
bright  orange-coloured  machine  that  was  battling  with 
the  strong  current  of  a  rapid,  must  indeed  have  appeared 
an  unsafe  and  insignificant  craft ;  but  a  more  careful  study 
of  its  performances  in  the  rapid,  and  of  the  immense  quan- 
tity of  miscellaneous  goods  and  chattels  which  were,  at  a 
later  period  of  the  day,  disgorged  from  its  interior,  would 
have  convinced  the  beholder  that  it  was  in  truth  the  most 
convenient  and  serviceable  craft  that  could  be  devised  for 
the  exigencies  of  such  a  covintry. 

True,  it  could  hold  only  two  men  (it  viight  have  taken 
three  at  a  pinch),  because  men,  and  women  too,  are  awk- 
ward, unyielding  baggage,  very  difficult  to  stow  com- 
pactly, but  it  is  otherwise  with  tractable  goods.  The 
canoe  is  exceedingly  tliin,  so  that  no  space  is  taken  up  or 
rendered  useless  by  its  own  structure,  and  there  is  no  end 
to  the  amount  of  blankets,  and  furs,  and  coats,  and 
paddles,  and  tent-covers,  and  dogs,  and  baliies,  that  can 
be  stowed  away  in  its  capacious  interior.  The  canoe  of 
which  we  aie  now  writing  contained  two  persons,  whoso 
active  figures  were  thrown  alternately  into  every  graceful 
attitude  of  manly  vigour,  as,  with  poles  in  hand,  they 
struggled  to  force  their  light  craft  against  the  boiling 
stream.  One  was  a  man  apparently  of  about  forty  live 
years  of  age.  He  was  a  square-shouldered,  muscular 
man,  and  from  the  mggedness  of  his  general  appearance, 
the  soiled  hunting-shirt  that  was  strapped  round  his 
waist  with  a  parti- coloured  worsted  belt,  the  leather  leg- 
gins,  a  good  deal  the  worse  for  wear,  together  with  the 
quiet  self-possessed  glance  of  his  gray  eye,  the  compressed 
lip  and  the  sunbui-nt  brow,  it  was  evident  that  he  was  a 


lAOM.  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


161 


hunter,  and  one  who  had  seen  rough  work  in  his  day. 
The  expression  of  his  face  was  pleasing,  despite  a  look  of 
habitual  severity  which  sat  upon  it,  and  a  deep  scar 
wliich  traveitied  his  brow  from  the  right  temple  to  the  top 
of  his  nose.  It  was  difficult  to  teU  to  what  country  he 
belonged.  His  father  was  a  Canadian,  his  mother  a 
Scotchwoman.  He  was  bom  in  Canada,  brought  up  in 
one  of  the  Yankee  settlements  on  the  Missouri,  and  had, 
from  a  mere  youth,  spent  his  life  as  a  hunter  in  the  wil 
derness.  He  could  speak  English,  French,  or  Indian 
with  equal  ease  and  fluency,  but  it  would  have  been  hard 
for  any  one  to  say  wliich  of  the  three  was  his  native 
tongue.  The  younger  man,  who  occupied  the  stern  of  the 
canoe,  acting  the  part  of  steersman,  was  quite  a  youth, 
apparently  about  seventeen,  but  tall  and  stout  beyond  his 
years,  and  deeply  sunburnt.  Indeed,  were  it  not  for  this 
fact,  the  unusual  quantity  of  hair  that  hung  in  massive 
curls  down  his  neck,  and  the  voi/ageur  costume,  we  should 
have  recognised  our  young  friend  Charley  Kennedy  again 
more  easily.  Had  any  doubts  remained  in  our  mind,  the 
shout  of  his  merry  voice  would  have  scattered  them  at 
once. 

"  Hold  hard,  Jacques,"  l^.e  cried,  as  the  canoe  trem- 
bled in  the  current,  "  one  moment,  till  I  get  my  pole 
fixed  behind  this  rock.  Now,  then,  shove  ahead.  Ah  ! " 
he  exclaimed,  with  chagrin,  as  the  pole  slipt  on  the  treach- 
ex'ous  bottom,  and  the  canoe  whirled  round. 

"  Mind  the  rock,"  cried  the  bowsman,  giving  an  ener- 
getic thrust  with  his  pole,  that  sent  the  light  bark  into  an 
eddy  formed  by  a  large  rock,  which  rose  above  the  turbu- 
lent waters.  Here  it  rested  while  Jacques  and  Charley 
raised   themselves   on   their   knees   (travellers   in   small 


I 


162 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


hP" 


I 


canoes  always  sit  in  a  kneeling  position)  to  survey  the 
rapid. 

"  It's  too  much  for  us,  I  fear,  Mr  Charles,"  said 
Jacques,  shading  his  brow  with  his  horny  hand.  "  I've 
paddled  up  it  many  a  time  alone,  but  never  saw  the 
water  so  big  as  now." 

"  Humph !  we  shall  have  to  make  a  portage,  then,  I 
pi-esume.  Could  we  not  give  it  one  trial  more  ]  I  think 
we  might  make  a  dash  for  the  tail  of  that  eddy,  and  then 
the  stream  above  seems  not  quite  so  strong.  Do  you 
think  so,  Jacques  ? " 

Jacques  was  not  the  man  to  check  a  daring  young 
spirit.  His  motto  through  life  had  ever  been  "  Never 
venture,  never  win," — a  sentiment  which  his  intercourse 
among  fur-traders  had  taught  him  to  embody  in  the  pithy 
expression,  "  Never  say  die  ;"  so  that,  although  quite  sa- 
tisfied that  the  thing  was  impossible,  he  merely  replied  to 
liis  companion's  speech  by  an  assenting  "  Ho,"  and  pushed 
out  again  into  the  stream.  An  energetic  effoi-t  enabled 
them  to  gain  the  tail  of  the  eddy  spoken  of,  when 
Charley's  pole  snapt  across,  and,  falling  heavily  on  the 
gunwale,  he  would  have  upset  the  little  craft,  had  not 
Jacques,  whose  ^vits  were  habitually  on  the  qui  vive, 
thrown  his  own  weight  at  the  same  moment  on  the  op- 
posite side,  and  counterbalanced  Charley's  slip.  The 
action  saved  them  a  ducking ;  but  the  canoe,  being  left 
to  its  own  devices  for  an  instant,  whirled  off  again  into 
the  stream,  and  before  Charley  could  seize  a  paddle  to 
prevent  it,  they  were  floating  in  the  still  water  at  the 
foot  of  the  rapids. 

"  Now,  ii,n't  that  a  borel"  snid  Charley,  with  a  comical 
look  f>f  disappointment  at  his  companion. 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


163 


Jticqiies  laughed. 

"  It  was  well  to  <ry,  master.  I  mind  a  young  clerk 
who  came  into  these  parts  the  same  year  as  I  did,  and  he 
seldom  tried  anything.  lie  couldn't  abide  canoes.  IIo 
didn't  want  for  courage  neither;  but  he  had  a  nat'ral 
dislike  to  thorn,  I  suppose,  that  he  couldn't  help,  and 
never  entered  one  except  when  he  was  obliged  to  do  so. 
Well,  one  day  he  wounded  a  grizzly  licar  on  the  banks 
o'  the  Saskatchewan  (mind  the  tail  o'  that  rapid,  Mr 
Charles ;  we'll  land  'totlior  side  o'  yon  rock.)  Well,  the 
bear  made  after  him,  and  he  cut  stick  right  away  for  the 
river,  where  there  was  a  canoe  hauled  up  on  the  bank. 
He  didn't  take  time  to  put  his  rifle  aboard,  but  dropt  it 
OP.  the  gravel,  crammed  the  canoe  into  the  water  and 
jumped  in,  almost  driving  his  feet  through  its  bottom  as 
he  did  so,  and  then  plumi)cd  down  so  suddenly  to  prevent 
its  capsizing,  that  he  split  it  right  across.  By  this  time 
the  bear  was  at  his  heels,  and  took  the  water  like  a  duck. 
The  poor  clerk,  in  his  hurry,  swayed  from  side  to  side 
tryin'  to  prevent  the  canoe  goin'  over.  But  when  he 
went  to  one  side,  he  was  so  unused  to  it  that  he  went  too 
far,  and  had  to  jerk  over  to  the  other  pretty  sharp ;  and 
so  he  got  worse  and  worse,  until  he  heard  the  bear  give 
a  great  snort  beside  him.  Then  he  grabbed  the  paddle 
in  desperation,  but  at  the  first  dash  he  missed  his  stroke 
and  over  he  went.  The  cuiTent  was  pretty  strong  at  the 
place,  which  was  lucky  for  him,  for  it  kept  him  down  n 
bit,  so  that  the  bear  didn't  observe  him  for  a  little  j  and 
while  it  was  pokin'  away  at  the  canoe,  he  was  carried 
cloAvn  stream  like  a  log  and  stranded  on  a  shallow.  Jump- 
ing up,  he  made  tracks  for  the  wood,  and  the  bear  (which 
had  found  out  its  mistake)  after  him,  so  he  was  obliged 


164 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


at  last  to  take  to  a  tree,  where  the  beast  watched  hhu  for 
u  day  and  a  niglit,  till  his  friends,  thinking  that  some- 
thing nmst  he  wrong,  sent  out  to  look  for  him.  (Steady, 
now,  Mr  Charles.  A  little  more  to  the  right — that's  it.) 
Nuw,  if  that  young  man  had  only  ventured  b(jldly  into 
small  canoes  when  he  got  the  chance,  he  might  have 
laughed  at  the  grizzly  and  killed  him  too." 

As  Jacques  finished,  the  canoe  glided  into  a  quiet  bay 
formed  by  an  eddy  of  the  rapid,  where  the  still  water  was 
overhung  by  dense  foliage. 

"  Is  the  portage  a  long  one  ? "  asked  Charley,  as  he 
stepped  out  on  the  bank,  and  helped  to  unload  the  canoe. 

"  About  half  a  mile,"  rejilied  his  companion.  "  We 
might  make  it  shorter  by  poling  up  the  last  rapid  ;  but 
it's  stiff  work,  Mr  Charles,  and  we'll  do  the  thing  quicker 
and  easier  at  one  lift." 

The  two  travellers  now  proceeded  to  make  a  portage. 
They  prepared  to  cany  their  canoe  and  baggage  overland, 
so  as  to  avoid  a  succession  of  rapids  and  waterfalls  which 
intercepted  their  further  progress. 

"  Now,  Jacques,  up  with  it,"  said  Charley,  after  the 
loading  had  been  taken  out  and  placed  on  the  grassy 
bank. 

The  hunter  stooped,  and,  seizing  the  oanoe  by  its 
centre  bar,  lifted  it  out  of  the  water,  placed  it  on  his 
shoulders,  and  walked  off  with  it  into  the  woods.  This 
was  not  accomplished  by  the  man's  superior  strength. 
Charley  could  have  done  it  quite  as  well ;  and,  indeed, 
the  strong  hunter  could  have  carried  a  canoe  of  twice  the 
size  with  perfect  ease.  Immediately  afterwards  Charley 
followed  with  as  much  of  the  lading  as  he  could  carry, 
leaving  enough  on  the  bank  to  form  another  load. 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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2.5 
2.2 


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L£    12.0 


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Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


104 


ii.'^OWFLAKl'l-^  AKD  Sl'NBEAMS 


>« 


i»^   -n 


.,srt  to  a.  trtp*,  where  tho  b<>ast  watched  him  for 
•',  vii|?ht   '        ''s  fri^n«Ls,  tliJuking  that  some-' 
^^^.■7't  Vv*.  V.  lit  U>  look  for  liiiu.    (Steady, 

.  '  m  mm'-.:-  to  thw  right— -that's  it.) 

.1'  U>#«  •:*«  onlj  vtntiired  boldly  into 

*?«?  ...        b»  «lj<wice,  ho   /ji5gl.t->  have 

.i  kiUrtd  hiiu  t^oa" 
^>  J    .  iii'l,  1/hi^  canoe  giid^.^l  twk^  «  quiet  bay 
ivy  axi  tMidy  oi'the  rapid,  whcr*:  s,:  .  jjUII  waU^rwaa 
■tvung  by  dense  fi»Ji.'ig',\ 
*'  Is  the  portage  a  long  one?"  ask(id  Charloy,  as  lie- 
stepped  out  on  the  bank,  and  helped  to  unload  the  canoe. 
"  About  half  a  mile,"  replied  his  companion.     "  We 
might  make  it  shorter  by  poling  ap  the  last  rapid  ;  btit 
T^'  it's  stifr  work,  Mr  Charles,  and  we'll  do  the  thing  qiilcker 

ttu'l  cjawitT  at  oxm  lift." 

Tho  t»'o  t:raYi>llei>j  mr^  i>-mi-^>:*-4f>l  *v.  mnke  a  j^orfcigeL 

.     They  ]>i'epareci  to  ."Sktry  fchwir  tMAi*Ms  iuul  b^tggage  overl.'uid, 

;  '  a.H  to  avoid  a«Xicccssi*'n  of  r.'.pids  aiid  waterfalls  whirh 

jji*^3lc«ip*/Mi  their  furthe>*  pro^rreiis. 

'•*  .2*^3'«r,  Jacques,  up 
loading  Iwd  beet)   taken  oi.*; 
bank. 

The   hunkr  stooped,    h{)' 
:  . •        centre  bar,  lii'\<.4  it  out 

bho aiders,  ai<d  wulked  oifv  »;^ 

wiiij  not  accouipR'iued  by   •• 

Charley  could  h:tv,<  d«.)no  m    «v>iu?  aa  well;  and,  indeed^ 

the  strong  hunter  could  lukvxi   *jf i«d  a  canoo  of  twice  tho 

size  witli  perfect  eaae.     Imnu-xlwtely  afterwanls  Cliarley 

followed  with  as  mu.h  of  tl»    hiding  an  ho  could  carr} , 

leaving  enough  on  the  biuik  to  i'ornv  another  load. 


";  V'hfuiey^  after  the 
■    MMx^d  on  tho  graiisy 

•  i,v*   tho   canoe   by  it« 

•*ivt>)r,  placed  it  on  hia 

t  into  the  wood.^.     This 

'\uua  superior  strength. 


1,1 


\l 


CHARLEY  AND  JACQUES  "MAKING  A  PORTAGE. 


,  PagelM. 


riiHHiiliHiiiahl 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


165 


:    '' 


The  banks  of  the  river  were  steep  ;  in  some  places  so 
much  so  that  Jacques  found  it  a  matter  of  no  small  tliflS- 
culty  to  climb  over  the  broken  rocks  with  the  unwieldy- 
canoe  on  his  back  :  the  more  so  that  the  branches  inter- 
laced overhead  so  thickly  as  to  present  a  strong  barrier, 
through  which  the  canoe  had  to  be  forced,  at  the  risk  of 
damaging  its  delicate  bark  covering.  On  reaching  the 
compai'atively  level  laud  above,  however,  there  was  more 
open  space,  and  the  hunter  threaded  his  way  among  the 
tree  stems  more  rapidly,  making  a  detour  occasionally  to 
avoid  a  swamp  or  piece  of  broken  gi-ound ;  sometimes 
descending  a  deep  gorge  formed  by  a  small  tributary  of  the 
stream  they  were  ascending,  and  which,  to  an  unpractised 
eye,  would  have  appeared  almost  impassable,  even  without 
the  incumbrance  of  a  canoe.  But  the  said  canoe  never 
bore  Jacques  more  gallantly  or  safely  over  the  surges  of 
lake  or  stream  than  did  he  bear  u  through  the  intricate 
mazes  of  the  forest ;  now  diving  down  and  disappearing 
altogether  in  the  umbrageous  foliage  of  a  dell ;  anon  re- 
appearing on  the  other  side  and*"  scrambling  up  the  bank 
on  all-fours,  he  and  the  canoe  together  looking  like  some 
frightful  yellow  reptile  of  antediluvian  proportions ;  and 
then  speeding  rapidly  forward  over  a  level  plain  until  he 
reached  a  sheet  of  still  water  above  the  rapids.  Here  he 
deposited  his  burden  on  the  grass ;  and  halting  only  for  a 
few  seconds  to  carry  a  few  drops  of  the  clear  water  to  his 
lips,  retraced  his  steps  to  bring  over  the  remainder  of  the 
baggage.  Soon  afterwards  Charley  made  his  appearance 
on  the  spot  where  the  canoe  was  left,  and,  throwing  down 
his  load,  seated  himself  on  it  and  surveyed  the  prospect. 
Before  him  lay  a  reach  of  the  stream,  which  spread  out  so 
widely  as  to  resemble  a  small  lake,  in  whose  clear,  still 


• 


166 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


bosom  were  reflected  the  overhanging  foliage  of  graceful 
willows,  and  here  and  there  the  bright  stem  of  a  silver 
birch,  whose  light  green  leaves  contrasted  well  with  scat- 
tered groups  and  solitary  specimens  of  the  spruce  fir. 
Keeds  and  sedges  grew  in  the  water  along  the  banks, 
rendering  the  junction  of  the  land  and  the  stream  un- 
certain and  confused.  All  this  and  a  gi'eat  deal  more 
Charley  noted  at  a  glance ;  for  the  hundreds  of  beautiful 
and  interesting  objects  in  nature  that  take  so  long  to  de- 
scribe, even  partially,  and  are  feebly  set  forth  after  all, 
even  by  the  most  grapliic  language,  flash  upon  the  eye  in 
all  their  force  and  beauty,  and  are  drunk  in  at  once  in  a 
single  glanc^. 

But  Charley  noted  several  objects  floating  on  the  water 
which  we  have  not  yet  mentioned.  These  were  five  gray 
geese  feeding  among  the  reeds  at  a  considerable  distance 
ofi",  and  all  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  a  human  foe  in 
their  remote  domains.  The  ti-avellers  had  trusted  veiy 
much  to  their  guns  and  nets  for  food,  having  only  a  small 
quantity  of  pemican  in  reserve,  lest  these  should  fail — an 
event  which  was  not  at  all  likely,  as  the  country  through 
which  they  passed  was  teeming  with  wildfowl  of  all  kinds, 
besides  deer.  These  latter,  however,  were  only  shot 
when  they  came  inadvertently  within  rifle  range,  as  our 
voyageurs  had  a  definite  object  in  view,  and  could  not 
alibrd  to  devote  much  of  their  time  tc  the  chase. 

During  the  day  previous  to  that  on  which  we  have 
introduced  them  to  our  readei-s,  Charley  and  his  com- 
I>anion  had  been  so  much  occupied  in  navigating  their 
frail  bark  among  a  succession  of  rapids,  that  they  had  not 
attended  to  the  replenishing  of  their  larder,  so  that  the 
geese  which  now  shewed  themselves  were  looked  upon  by 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


167 


Charley  with  a  longing  eye.     Unfortunately  they  were 
feeding  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  out  of  shot. 
But  Charley  was  a  hunter  now,  and  knew  how  to  over- 
come slight  difficulties.     He  first  cut  down  a  pretty  large 
and  leafy  branch  of  a  tree,  and  placed  it  in  the  bow  of 
the  canoe  in  such  a  way  as  to  hang  down  before  it  and 
form  a  perfect  screen,  through  the  interstices  of  which  he 
could  see  the  geese,  while  they  could  only  see,  what  was 
to  them  no  novelty,  the  branch  of  a  tree  floating  down 
the  stream.     Having  gently  launched  the  canoe,  Charley 
was  soon  close  to  the  unsuspecting  birds,  from  among 
which  he  selected  one  that  appeared  to  be  unusually 
complacent  and  self-satisfied,  concluding  at  once,  with  an 
amount  of  wisdom  that  bespoke  him  a  true  philosopher, 
that  such  must  as  a  matter  of  course  be  the  fattest. 

"  Bang"  went  the  gun,  and  immediately  the  sleek 
goose  turned  round  upon  its  back  and  stretched  out  its 
feet  towards  the  sky,  waving  them  once  or  twice  as  if 
bidding  adieu  to  its  friends.  The  others  thereupon  took 
to  flight,  with  such  a  deal  of  splutter  and  noise  as  made 
it  quite  apparent  that  their  astonishment  was  unfeigned. 
Bang  went  the  gun  again,  and  down  fell  a  second  goose. 

"  Ha ! "  exclaimed  Jacques,  throwing  down  the  re* 
mainder  of  the  cargo  as  Charley  landed  with  his  booty, 
"  that's  well.  I  was  just  thinking  as  I  corned  across  that 
we  should  have  to  take  to  pemican  to-night." 

"  Well,  Jacques,  and  if  we  had,  I'm  sure  an  old  hunter 
like  you,  who  have  reughed  it  so  often,  need  not  com- 
plain," said  Charley,  smiling.        :  - ' 

"  As  to  that,  master,"  replied  Jacques,  "  I've  roughed 
it  often  enough  ;  and  when  it  does  come  to  a  clear  fix,  I 
can  eat  my  shoes  without  grumblin',  as  well  as  any  man. 


16a 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


But,  you  see,  fresh  meat  is  better  than  dried  meat  when 
it's  to  be  had ;  aud  so  I'm  glad  to  liee  that  you've  been 
lucky,  Mr  Charles." 

"  To  say  truth,  so  am  T  ;  and  these  fellows  are  delight- 
fully plump.  But  you  spoke  of  eating  your  shoes,  Jacques ; 
when  were  you  reduced  to  that  direful  extremity  1" 

Jacques  finished  reloading  the  canoe  while  they  conver- 
sed, and  the  two  were  seated  in  their  places,  and  quietly  but 
swiftly  ascending  the  stream  again,  ere  the  hunter  replied. 

"You've  heerd  of  Sir  John  Franklin,  I  s'pose?"  he 
inquired,  after  a  minute's  consideration. 

"  Yes,  often." 

"  An'  p'raps  you've  heerd  tell  of  his  first  trip  of  dis- 
covery along  the  shores  of  the  Polar  Sea?" 

"  Do  you  refer  to  the  time  when  he  was  nearly  starved 
to  death,  and  when  poor  Hood  was  shot  by  the  Indian  ?" 

"  The  same,"  said  Jacques. 

"  Oh,  yes — I  know  all  about  that.  Were  you  with 
them  ?"  inquired  Charley,  in  great  surprise. 

"  Why,  no — not  exactly  on  the  trip ;  but  I  was  sent 
in  winter  with  provisions  to  them, — and  much  need 
they  had  of  them,  poor  fellows !  I  found  them  tearing 
away  at  some  old  parchment  skins  that  had  lain  under 
the  snow  all  winter,  and  that  an  Injin's  dog  would  ha' 
turned  up  his  nose  at, — and  they  don't  turn  up  their 
snouts  at  many  things,  I  can  tell  ye.  Well,  after  we 
had  left  all  our  provisions  with  them,  we  started  for  the 
fort  again,  just  keepin'  as  much  as  would  drive  ofi"  starva- 
tion ;  for,  you  see,  we  thought  that  surely  we  would  git 
something  on  the  road.  But  neither  hoof  nor  feather 
did  we  see  all  the  way  (I  was  travellin'  with  an  Injin), 
and  our  grub  was  soon  done,  though  we  saved  it  up,  aud 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


IGO 


only  took  a  mouthful  or  two  the  last  three  days.  At 
last  it  was  done,  and  we  was  pretty  well  used  up,  and 
the  fort  two  days  ahead  of  us.  So  says  I  to  my  comrade 
— who  had  been  looking  at  me  for  some  time  as  if  he 
thought  that  a  cut  off  my  shoulder  wouldn't  be  a  bad 
thing — says  I,  *  Nipitabo,  I'm  afeer'd  the  shoes  must  go 
for  it  now ; '  so  with  that  I  pulls  out  a  i)air  o'  deerskin 
moccasins.  *They  looks  tender,*  said  I,  trying  to  be 
cheerful.  '  Wah,'  said  the  Injin ;  and  then  I  held  them 
over  the  fire  till  they  was  done  black,  and  Nipitabo  ate 
one,  and  I  ate  the  'tother,  with  a  lump  o*  snow  to  wash 
it  down!" 

"  It  must  have  been  rather  dry  eating,"  said  Charley, 
laughing. 

"  Rayther ;  but  it  was  better  than  the  Injin's  leather 
breeches  which  we  took  in  hand  next  day.  They  was 
uncommon  tough,  and  very  dirty,  havin'  been  worn  about 
a  yeai'  and  a  half.  Hows'ever,  they  kept  us  up;  an*, 
as  we  only  ate  the  legs,  he  had  the  benefit  o*  the  stump 
to  arrive  with  at  the  fort  next  day. " 

"What's  yon  ahead T'  exclaimed  Charley,  pausing  as 
he  spoke,  and  shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand. 

"  It's  uncommon  like  trees,"  said  Jacques.  "  It's 
likely  a  tree  that's  been  tumbled  across  the  river ;  and, 
from  its  appearance,  I  think  we'll  have  to  cut  through  it." 

"  Cut  through  it !"  exclaimed  Charley ;  "  if  my  sight 
is  worth  a  gunflint,  we'll  have  to  cut  through  a  dozen 
trees." 

Charley  was  right.  The  river  ahead  of  them  became 
rapidly  narrower  j  and,  either  from  the  looseness  of  the 
surrounding  soil,  or  the  passing  of  a  whirlwind,  dozens  of 
trees  had  been  upset,  and  lay  right  across  the  narrow  stream 

12 


170 


SNOWFLARES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


in  terrible  confusion.  What  made  the  thing  worse  was, 
that  the  banks  on  either  side,  which  were  low  and  flat, 
were  covered  with  such  a  dense  thicket  down  to  the 
water's  edge,  that  the  idea  of  making  a  portage  to  ovei- 
come  the  barrier  seemed  altogether  hopelesa 

"  Here's  a  pretty  business,  to  be  sure !"  cried  Charley, 
in  great  disgust. 

"Never  say  die,  Mister  Charles,"  replied  Jacques, 
taking  up  the  axe  from  the  bottom  of  the  canoe ;  "  it's 
quite  clear  that  outtin'  through  the  trees  is  easier  than 
cuttin'  through  the  bushes,  so  here  goea" 

For  fully  three  hours  the  travellers  were  engaged  in 
cutting  their  way  up  the  encumbered  stream,  during 
which  timp  they  did  not  advance  three  miles ;  and  it  was 
evening  ere  they  broke  down  the  last  barrier,  and  paddled 
out  into  a  sheet  of  clear  water  again. 

"That'll  prepare  us  for  the  geese,  Jacques,"  said  Charley, 
as  he  wiped  the  perspiration  firom  his  brow ;  "  there's 
nothing  like  warm  work  for  whetting  the  appetite,  and 
making  one  sleep  soundly," 

"  That's  true,"  replied  the  hunter,  resuming  his  paddle. 
"  I  often  wonder  how  them  white-faced  fellows  in  the 
settlements  manage  to  keep  body  and  soul  together — a* 
sittin',  as  they  do,  all  day  in  the  house,  and  a'  lyin*  all 
night  in  a  feather  bed.  For  my  part,  rather  than  live  as 
they  do,  I  would  cut  my  way  up  streams  like  them  we've 
just  passed  every  day  and  all  day,  and  sleep  on  top  of  a  flat 
rock  o'  nights,  under  the  blue  sky,  all  my  life  through." 

"With  this  decided  expression  of  his  sentiments,  the 
stout  hunter  steered  the  canoe  up  alongside  of  a  huge  fiat 
rock,  as  if  he  were  bent  on  giving  a  practical  illustration 
of  the  latter  part  of  his  speech  then  and  there. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


171 


"We'd  better  camp  now,  Mister  Chai-lea,  there's  a 
portage  o*  two  miles  here,  and  it'll  take  us  cill  sun-down 
to  get  the  canoe  and  things  over/' 

"  Be  it  80,"  said  Charley,  landing ;  "  is  there  a  good 
place  at  the  other  end  to  camp  on  ? " 

"  First-rate.  It's  smooth  as  a  blanket  on  the  turf,  and  a 
clear  spiing  bubbling  at  the  root  of  a  wide  tree  that  would 
keep  off  the  rain  if  it  was  to  come  down  like  water-spouts." 

The  spot  on  which  the  travellers  encamped  that  evening 
overlooked  one  of  those  scenes  in  which  vast  extent,  and 
rich,  soft  variety  of  natural  objects,  were  united  with  much 
that  was  grand  and  savage.  It  filled  the  mind  with  the 
calm  satisfaction  that  is  experienced  when  one  gazes  on  the 
wide  lawns,  studded  with  noble  trees ;  the  spreading  fields 
of  waving  grain  that  mingle  with  stream  and  copse,  rock 
and  dell,  vineyard  and  garden,  of  the  cultivated  lands  of 
civilised  men ;  while  it  produced  that  exulting  throb  of 
freedom  which  stirs  man's  heart  to  its  centre,  when  he  casts 
a  first  glance  over  miles  and  miles  of  broad  lands  that  are 
yet  unowned,  unclaimed ;  that  yet  lie  in  the  unmutilated 
beauty  with  which  the  beneficent  Creator  originally  clothed 
them  —  far  away  from  the  well-known  scenes  of  man's 
chequered  history  ;  entirely  devoid  of  those  ancient  monu- 
ments  of  man's  power  and  skill,  that  carry  the  mind  back 
with  feelings  of  awe  to  bygone  ages ;  yet  stamped  with 
evidences  of  an  antiquity  more  ancient  still,  in  the  wild 
primeval  forests,  and  the  noble  trees  that  have  sprouted 
and  spread  and  towered  in  their  strength  for  centuries — 
trees  that  have  fallen  at  their  posts,  while  others  took  their 
place,  and  rose  and  fell  as  they  did,  like  long-lived  sentinels, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  perpetual  guard  over  the  vast 
solitudes  of  the  great  American  "Wilderness, 


r  I 


172 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


The  fire  was  lighted  and  the  cauuo  turned  bottom  up  in 
front  of  it,  under  the  branches  of  a  spreading  tree  which 
stood  on  an  eminence,  whence  was  obtained  a  bird's-eye 
view  of  the  noble  scene.  It  was  a  flat  valley,  on  either 
side  of  which  rose  two  ranges  of  hills,  which  were  clothed 
to  the  top  with  trees  of  various  kinds,  the  plain  of  the 
valley  itself  being  dotted  with  clumps  of  wood,  among 
which  the  fresh  green  foliage  of  the  plane-tree  and  the 
silver-stemmed  birch  were  conspicuous,  giving  an  airy 
lightness  to  the  scene  and  enhancing  the  picturesque  effect 
of  the  dark  pines.  A  small  stream  could  be  traced  wind- 
ing out  and  in  among  clumps  of  willows,  reflecting  their 
drooping  boughs  and  the  more  sombre  branches  of  the 
spruce-fir  aiid  the  straight  larch  with  which,  in  many  places, 
its  banks  were  shaded.  Here  and  there  were  stretches  of 
clearer  ground,  where  the  green  herbage  of  spring  gave  to 
it  a  lawn-like  appearance,  and  the  whole  magnificent  scene 
was  bounded  by  blue  hills  that  became  fainter  as  they 
receded  from  the  eye  and  mingled  at  last  with  the  horizon. 
The  sun  had  just  set,  and  a  rich  glow  of  red  bathed  the 
whole  scene,  which  was  further  enlivened  by  flocks  of  wild- 
fowls and  herds  of  reindeer. 

These  last  soon  drew  Charley's  attention  from  the  con- 
templation of  the  scenery,  and,  observing  a  deer  feeding 
in  an  open  space,  towards  which  he  could  approach  with- 
out coming  between  it  and  the  wind,  he  ran  for  his  gun 
and  hurried  into  the  woods,  while  Jacques  busied  himself 
in  arranging  their  blankets  under  the  upturned  canoe,  and 
in  preparing  supper. 

Charley  discovered,  soon  after  starting,  what  all  hunters 
discover  sooner  or  later,  namely,  that  appearances  are  de- 
ceitful, for  he  no  sooner  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill  than 


PKOM  THE  FAR  NOTITH. 


173 


ho  found,  between  him  and  tlie  lawu-like  country,  an 
iihnost  impenetrable  thicket  of  underwood.  Our  young 
hero,  however,  was  of  that  disposition  which  sticks  at 
nothing,  and  instead  of  taking  time  to  search  for  an  open- 
ing, he  took  a  race  and  sprang  into  the  middJu  of  it,  in 
hopes  of  forcing  his  way  througlL  His  httpes  were  not 
disappointed.  Ho  got  thi*ough  —  quite  through  —  and 
alighted  up  to  the  armpits  in  a  swamp,  to  the  infinite  con- 
sternation of  a  flock  of  teal-ducks  that  were  slumbering 
peacefully  there  with  their  heads  under  their  wings,  and 
had  evidently  gone  to  bed  for  the  night.  Fortunately  he 
held  his  gun  above  the  water  and  kept  his  balance,  so 
that  he  was  able  to  proceed  with  a  dry  charge,  though 
with  an  uncommonly  wet  skin.  Half  an  hour  brought 
Charley  within  range,  and,  watching  patiently  until  the 
animal  presented  his  side  towards  the  place  of  his  con- 
cealment, he  fired  and  shot  it  through  the  heart. 

"Well  done.  Mister  Charles,"  exclaimed  Jacques,  as 
the  former  staggered  into  camp  with  the  reindeer  on  his 
shoulders, — "  a  fat  doe  too." 

"  Ay,"  said  Charley,  "  but  she  hast  cost  me  a  wet  skin  ; 
80  pray,  Jacques,  rouse  up  the  fire,  and  let's  have  supper 
as  soon  as  you  can." 

Jacques  speedily  skinned  the  deer,  cut  a  couple  of 
steaks  from  its  flank,  and,  placing  them  on  wooden  spikes, 
stuck  them  up  to  roast,  while  his  young  friend  put  on  a 
dry  shirt',  and  hung  his  coat  before  the  blaze.  The  goose 
which  had  been  shot  earlier  in  the  day  was  also  plucked, 
split  open,  impaled  in  the  same  manner  as  the  steaks,  and 
set  up  to  roast.  By  this  time  the  shadows  of  night  had 
deepened,  and  ere  long  all  was  shrouded  in  gloom,  except 
the  circle  of  ruddy  light  around  the  camp  fire,  in  the 


I -1 
If! 


f 


i 


174 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


centre  of  which  Jacques  and  Charley  sat,  with  the  canoe 
at  their  backs,  knives  in  their  hands,  and  the  two  spits, 
on  the  top  of  which  smoked  thjir  ample  supper,  planted 
in  the  ground  before  them. 

One  by  one  the  stars  went  out,  until  none  were  visible 
except  the  bright,  beautiful  morning  star,  as  it  rose 
higher  and  higher  in  the  eastern  sky.  One  by  one  the 
owls  and  the  wolves,  ill-omened  birds  and  beasts  of  night, 
retired  to  rest  in  the  dark  recesses  of  the  forest.  Little 
by  little  the  gray  dawn  overspread  the  sky,  and  paled  the 
lustre  of  the  morning  star,  until  it  faded  away  altogether, 
and  then  Jacques  awoke  with  a  start,  and  throwing  out 
his  arm,  brought  it  accidently  into  violent  contact  with 
Charley's  nose. 

This  caused  Charley  to  awake,  not  only  with  a  start, 
but  also  with  a  roar,  which  brought  them  both  suddenly 
into  a  sitting  posture,  in  which  they  continued  for  some 
time  in  a  state  between  sleeping  and  waking,  their  faces 
meanwhile  expressive  of  mingled  imbecility  and  extreme 
surprise.  Bursting  into  a  simultaneous  laugh,  which 
degenerated  into  a  loud  yawn,  they  sprang  up,  launched 
and  reloaded  their  canoe,  and  resumed  their  journey. 


7B0M  THE  FAB  NOBTU. 


175 


CHAPTER  XTV. 

The  Indian  Camp;  the  new  Ontpost;  Charley  sent  on  a  Mission  to  the 

Indians. 


In  the  councils  of  the  fur-traders,  on  the  spring  previous 
to  that  about  which  vre  are  now  writing,  it  had  been 
decided  to  extend  their  operations  a  little  in  the  lands 
tliat  lie  in  central  America,  to  the  north  of  the  Sas- 
katchewan river;  and,  in  furtherance  of  that  object,  it  had 
been  intimated  to  the  chief  trader  in  charge  of  the  dis- 
trict, that  an  expedition  should  be  set  on  foot,  having  for 
its  object  the  examination  of  a  territory  into  which  they 
had  not  yet  penetrated,  and  the  establishment  of  an  out- 
post therein.  It  was  furthermore  ordered  that  operations 
should  be  commenced  at  once,  and  that  the  choice  of  men 
to  carry  out  the  end  in  view  was  graciously  left  to  the 
chief  trader's  well-known  sagacity. 

Upon  receiving  this  communication,  the  chief  trader 
selected  a  gentleman,  named  Mr  Whyte,  to  lead  the  party; 
gave  him  a  clerk  and  five  men ;  provided  him  with  a  boat 
and  a  large  supply  of  goods  necessary  for  trade,  imple- 
ments requisite  for  building  an  establishment,  and  sent 
him  off  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  and  a  recommen- 
dation to  "go  and  prosper." 

Charles  Kennedy  spent  part  of  the  previous  year  at 
Rocky  Mountain  House,  where  he  had  shewn  so  much 
energy   in  conducting  the  trade  —  especially   what   he 


r  I 


176 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


\ 


called  the  "  rough  and  tumble  "  part  of  it,  that  he  waa 
selected  as  the  clerk  to  accompany  Mr  Whyte  to  his  new 
ground.  After  proceeding  up  many  rivera,  whose  waters 
had  seldom  borne  the  craft  of  white  men,  and  across  innu- 
merable lakes,  the  party  reached  a  spot  that  presented  so 
inviting  an  aspect,  that  it  was  resolved  to  pitch  their  tent 
there  for  a  time,  and,  if  things  in  the  way  of  trade  and 
provision  looked  favourable,  establish  themselves  alto- 
gether. The  place  was  situated  on  the  margin  of  a  large 
lake,  whose  shores  were  covered  with  the  most  luxuriant 
verdure,  and  whose  waters  teemed  with  the  finest  fish, 
while  the  air  was  alive  with  wildfowl,  and  the  woods 
swarming  with  game.  Here  Mr  Whyte  rested  awhile ; 
and,  having  found  everything  to  his  satisfaction,  he  took 
his  axe,  selected  a  gi'een  lawn  that  commanded  an  exten- 
sive view  of  the  lake,  and  going  up  to  a  tall  larch,  struck 
the  steel  into  it,  and  thus  put  the  first  touch  to  an  estab- 
lishment which  afterwards  went  by  the  name  of  Stoney 
Creek. 

A  solitary  Indian,  whom  they  had  met  with  on  the 
way  to  their  new  home,  had  informed  them  that  a  large 
band  of  Knisteneux  had  lately  migrated  to  a  river  about 
four  days'  journey  beyond  the  lake,  at  which  they  halted ; 
and  when  the  new  fort  was  just  beginning  to  spring  up, 
our  friend  Charley  and  the  interpreter,  Jacques  Caradoc, 
were  ordered  by  Mr  Whyte  to  make  a  canoe,  and  then, 
embarking  in  it,  to  proceed  to  the  Indian  camp,  to  inform 
the  natives  of  their  rare  good  luck  in  having  a  band  of 
white  men  come  to  settle  near  their  lands  to  trade 
with  them.  The  interpreter  and  Charley  soon  found 
birch  bark,  pine  roots  for  sewing  it,  and  gum  for  plaster- 
ing the  seams,   wherewith  they  constructed  the  light 


%. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


177 


machine  whose  progress  we  have  partly  traced  in  the  last 
chapter,  and  whicl^  on  the  following  day  at  sunset, 
carried  them  to  their  journey's  end. 

From  some  remarks  made  by  the  Indian  who  gave 
them  information  of  the  camp,  Charley  gathered  that  it  was 
the  tribe  to  which  Redfeather  belonged,  and  furthermore, 
that  Kedfeather  himself  was  there  at  that  time ;  so  that 
it  was  with  feelings  of  no  little  interest  that  he  saw  the 
tops  of  the  yellow  tents  embedded  among  the  green  trees, 
and  soon  afterwards  beheld  them  and  their  picturesque 
owners  reflected  in  the  clear  river,  on  whose  banks  the 
natives  crowded  to  witness  the  arrival  of  the  white  men. 

Upon  the  green  sward,  and  under  the  umbrageous 
shade  of  the  forest  trees,  the  tents  were  pitched  to  the 
number  of  perhaps  eighteen  or  twenty,  and  the  whole 
population,  of  whom  very  few  were  absent  on  the  present 
occasion,  might  number  a  hundred — men,  women,  and 
children.  They  were  dressed  in  habiliments  formed 
chiefly  of  materials  procured  by  themselves  in  the  chase, 
but  ornamented  with  cloth,  beads,  and  silk  thread,  which 
shewed  that  they  had  had  intercourse  with  the  fur- 
ti-aders  before  now.  The  men  wore  leggins  of  deer- 
skin, which  reached  more  than  half  way  up  the  thigh, 
and  were  fastened  to  a  leathern  girdle,  strapped  round 
the  waist.  A  loose  tunic  or  hunting-shirt,  of  the  same 
material,  covered  the  figure  from  the  shoulders  almost  to 
the  knees,  and  was  confined  round  the  middle  by  a  belt — 
in  some  cases  of  worsted,  in  others,  of  leather  gaUy  oma- 
mented  with  quills.  Caps  of  various  indescribable  shapes, 
and  made  chiefly  of  skin,  with  the  animal's  tail  left  on  by 
way  of  ornament,  covered  their  heads,  and  moccasins  for 
the  feet  completed  their  costume.      These  last  may  be 


III 


178 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SX7NBEAMS 


simply  described  as  leather  mittens  for  the  feet  without 
fingers,  or  rather  toes.  They  were  gaudily  ornamented, 
as  was  almost  every  portion  of  costume,  with  porcu- 
pines* quills  dyed  with  brilliant  colours,  and  worked 
into  fanciful,  and  in  many  cases,  extremely  elegant  figures 
and  des'gns;  for  North  American  Indians  oftentimes 
display  an  amount  o^  taste  in  the  harmonious  arrangement 
of  colour,  that  would  astonish  those  who  fancy  that  educa- 
tion is  absolutely  necessary  to  the  just  appreciation  of  the 
beautiful. 

The  women  attired  themselves  in  leggins  and  coats 
difiering  little  fix)m  those  of  the  men,  except  that  the 
latter  werp  longer,  the  sleeves  detached  fi:om  the  body, 
and  fastened  on  separately — while  on  their  heads  they 
wore  caps,  which  hung  down  and  covered  their  back? 
to  the  waist.  These  caps  were  of  the  simplest  construc- 
tion, being  pieces  of  cloth  cut  into  an  oblong  shape,  and 
sewed  together  at  one  end.  They  were,  however,  richly 
ornamented  with  silk-work  and  beads. 

On  landing,  Charley  and  Jacques  walked  up  to  a  tall 
good-looking  Indian,  whom  they  judged  from  his  demean- 
our, and  the  somewhat  deferential  regard  paid  to  him  by 
the  others,  to  be  one  of  the  chief  men  of  the  little  com- 
munity. 

"  Ho  !  what  cheer  ?  "  said  Jacques,  taking  him  by  the 
hand  after  the  manner  of  Europeans,  and  accosting  him 
with  the  phrase  used  by  the  fur-traders  to  the  natives. 
The  Indian  returned  the  compliment  in  kind,  and  led 
the  visitors  to  his  tent,  where  he  spread  a  bufialo  robe  for 
them  on  the  ground,  and  begged  them  to  be  seated.  A 
repast  of  dried  meat  and  reindeer-tongues  was  then 
served,  to  which  our  fiiends  did  ample  justice ;  while  the 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


179 


women  and  children  satisfied  their  curiosity  by  peering  at 
them  through  chinks  and  holes  in  the  tent.  When  they 
had  finished,  several  of  the  principal  men  assembled,  and 
the  chief  who  had  entertained  them  made  a  speech,  to  the 
effect  that  he  was  much  gratified  by  the  honour  done  to 
his  people  by  the  visit  of  his  white  brothers ;  that  he 
hoped  they  would  continue  long  at  the  camp  to  enjoy 
their  hospitality ;  and  that  he  would  be  glad  to  know 
what  had  brought  them  so  far  into  the  coimtry  of  the 
red  men. 

During  the  course  of  this  speech,  the  diief  made 
eloquent  allusion  to  all  the  good  qualities  supposed  to  belong 
to  white  men.  in  general,  and  (he  had  no  doubt)  to  the  two 
white  men  before  him  in  particular.  He  also  boasted 
considerably  of  the  prowess  and  bravery  of  himself  and 
his  tribe ;  launched  a  few  sarcastic  hits  at  his  enemies, 
and  wound  up  with  a  poetical  hope  that  his  guests  might 
live  for  ever  in  these  beautiful  plains  of  bliss,  where  the 
sun  never  sets,  and  nothing  goes  wrong  anywhere,  and 
everything  goes  right  at  all  times,  and  where,  especially, 
the  deer  are  outrageously  fat,  and  always  come  out  on 
purpose  to  be  shot !  During  the  course  of  these  remarks, 
his  comrades  signified  their  hearty  concurrence  in  his 
sentiments,  by  giving  vent  to  sundry  low-toned  "hums!" 
and  "  has ! "  and  "  wahs  ! "  and  "  hos  ! "  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. After  it  was  over,  Jacques  rose,  and, 
addressing  them  in  their  own  language,  said — 

"  My  Indian  brethren  are  great.  They  are  brave,  and 
their  fame  has  travelled  far.  Their  deeds  are  known  even 
so  far  as  where  the  Great  Salt  Lake  beats  on  the  shore 
where  the  sun  rises.  They  are  not  women,  and  when 
their  enemies  hear  the  sound  of  their  name,  they  grow 


180 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


palo ;  their  hearts  become  like  those  of  the  reindeer. 
My  brethren  are  famous,  too,  in  the  use  of  the  snow-shoe, 
the  snare,  and  the  gun.  The  fur-traders  know  that  they 
must  build  large  stores  when  they  come  into  their  lands. 
They  bring  up  much  goods,  because  the  young  men  are 
active,  and  require  much.  The  silver  fox  and  the  marten 
are  no  longer  safe  when  their  traps  and  snares  are  set. 
Yes,  they  are  good  hunters,  and  we  have  now  come  to 
live  among  you  (Jacques  changed  his  style  as  he  came 
nearer  to  the  point),  to  trade  with  you,  and  to  save  you 
the  trouble  of  making  long  journeys  with  your  skins.  A 
few  days'  distance  from  your  wigwams  we  have  pitched 
our  tents.  ,  Our  young  men  are  even  now  felling  the  trees 
to  build  a  house.  Our  nets  are  set,  our  hunters  are 
prowling  in  the  woods,  our  goods  are  ready,  and  my 
young  master  and  I  have  come  to  smoke  the  pipe  of 
friendship  with  you,  and  to  invite  you  to  come  to  trade 
Nvith  us." 

Having  delivered  this  oration,  Jacques  sat  down  amid 
deep  silence.  Other  speeches,  of  a  highly  satisfactory 
character,  were  then  made,  after  which  "the  house 
adjourned,"  and  the  visitors,  opening  one  of  their  pack- 
ages, distributed  a  variety  of  presents  to  the  delighted 
natives. 

Several  times  during  the  course  of  these  proceedings, 
Charley's  eyes  wandered  among  the  faces  of  his  enter- 
tainers, in  the  hope  of  seeing  Kedfeather  among  them, 
but  without  success ;  and  he  began  to  fear  that  his  friend 
was  not  with  the  tribe. 

"  I  say,  Jacques,"  he  said,  as  they  left  the  tent,  "ask 
whether  a  chief  called  Redfeather  is  here.  I  knew  him 
of  old,  and  half-expected  to  find  him  at  this  place." 


-.  1  I- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


181 


The  Indian  to  whom  Jacques  put  the  question,  replied 
that  Bedfeather  was  with  them,  but  that  he  had  gone 
out  on  a  hunting  expedition  that  morning,  and  might  be 
absent  a  day  or  two. 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  Charley,  "  I'm  glad  he's  here.  Come, 
now,  let  us  take  a  walk  in  the  wood ;  these  good  people 
stare  at  us  as  if  we  were  ghost&"  And,  taking  Jacques' 
arm,  he  led  him  beyond  the  circuit  of  the  camp,  turned 
into  a  path,  which,  winding  among  the  thick  underwood, 
speedily  screened  them  from  view,  and  led  them  into  a 
sequestered  glade,  through  which  a  rivulet  trickled  along 
its  course,  almost  hid  from  view  by  the  dense  foliage  and 
long  grasses  that  overhung  it. 

"  What  a  delightful  place  to  live  in  ! "  said  Chailey. 
"  Do  you  ever  think  of  building  a  hut  in  such  a  spot  as 
this,  Jacquas,  and  settling  down  altogether  ?" 

Charley's  thoughts  reverted  to  his  sister  Kate  when  he 
said  this. 

"  Why,  no,"  replied  Jacques,  in  a  pensive  tone,  as  if 
the  question  had  aroused  some  sorrowful  recollections; 
"  I  can't  say  that  I'd  like  to  settle  here  now.  There  was 
a  time  when  I  thought  nothin'  could  be  better  than  to 
squat  in    the  woods  with  one  or  two  jolly  comrades, 

and (Jacques  sighed) ;  but  times  is  changed  now,  master, 

and  so  is  my  mind.  My  chums  are  most  of  them  dead 
or  gone,  one  way  or  other.  No ;  I  shouldn't  care  to 
squat  alone." 

Charley  thought  of  the  hut  without  Kate;  and  it  seemed 
so  desolate  and  dreary  a  dwelling,  notwithstanding  its 
beautiful  situation,  that  he  agreed  with  his  companion 
that  to  "squat"  alone  would  never  do  at  all. 

"No,   man  was  not  made  to  live  alone,"  continued 


r ' 


182 


8X0WFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Jacques,  pursuing  the  subject;  "even  the  Injins  draw 
together.  I  never  knew  but  one  as  didn't  like  his  fellows, 
and  he's  gone  now,  poor  fellow.  He  cut  his  foot  with  an 
axe  one  day,  while  fellin'  a  tree.  It  was  a  bad  cut ;  and 
havin*  nobody  to  look  after  him,  he  half-bled  and  half- 
starved  to  death." 

"By  the  way,  Jacques,"  said  Charley,  stepping  over 
the  clear  brook,  and  following  the  track  which  led 
up  the  opposite  bank,  "what  did  you  say  to  these  red- 
skins? You  made  them  a  most  eloquent  speech  appa- 
rently." 

"  Why,  as  to  that,  I  can't  boast  much  of  its  eloquence, 
but  I  think  it  was  clear  enough.  I  told  them  that  they 
were  a  great  nation ;  for,  you  see,  Mr  Charles,  the 
red  men  are  just  like  the  white  in  their  fondness  for 
butter ;  so  I  gave  them  some  to  begin  with,  though,  for 
the  matter  o'  that,  I'm  not  overly  fond  o*  givin'  butter  to 
any  man,  red  or  white.  But  I  holds  that  it's  as  well 
always  to  fall  in  with  the  ways  and  customs  o'  the  people 
a  man  happens  to  be  among,  so  long  as  them  ways  and 
customs  a'n't  contrary  to  what's  right.  It  makes  them 
feel  more  kindly  to  you,  an'  don't  raise  any  onnecessary 
ill-wilL  However,  the  Knisteneux  are  a  brave  racej 
and,  when  I  told  them  that  the  hearts  of  their  enemies 
trembled  when  they  heard  of  them,  I  told  nothing  but 
the  truth,  for  the  Chipewyans  are  a  miserable  set  and  not 
much  given  to  fighting." 

"  Your  principles  on  that  point  won't  stand  much 
sifting,  I  fear,"  replied  Charley ;  "  according  to  your  own 
shewing  you  would  fall  into  the  Chipewyan's  way  of  glo- 
rifying themselves  on  account  of  their  bravery,  if  you 
chanced  to  be  dwelling  among  them,  and  yet  you  say  they 


FBOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


183 


are   not  brave.     That  would  not  be  sticking  to  truth, 
Jacques,  would  it  1 " 

"Well,"  replied  Jacques,  with  a  smile,  "perhaps  not 
exactly,  but  I'm  sure  there  could  be  small  harm  in  help- 
ing the  miserable  objects  to  boast  sometimes,  for  theyVe 
little  else  than  boasting  to  comfort  them." 

"  And  yet,  Jacques,  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  truth  is 
a  grand,  a  glorious  thing,  that  should  not  be  trifled  with 
even  in  small  matters." 

Jacques  opened  his  eyes  a  little.  "  Then  do  you  think, 
master,  that  a  man  should  never  tell  a  lie,  no  matter  what 
fix  he  may  be  in  ? " 

"  I  think  not,  Jacques." 

The  hunter  paused  a  few  minutes,  and  looked  as  if  an 
unusual  train  of  ideas  had  been  raised  in  his  mind  by 
the  turn  their  conversation  had  taken.  Jacques  was  a 
man  of  no  religion,  and  little  morality,  beyond  what  flowed 
from  a  naturally  kind,  candid  disposition,  and  entertained 
the  belief  that  the  end,  if  a  good  one,  always  justifies  the 
means, — a  doctrine  which,  had  it  been  clearly  exposed  to 
liim  in  all  its  bearings  and  results,  would  have  been 
spumed  by  his  straightforward  nature  with  the  indignant 
contempt  that  it  merits. 

"  Mr  Charles,"  he  said,  at  length,  "  I  once  travelled 
across  the  plains  to  the  head  wafers  of  the  Missouri  with 
a  party  of  six  trappers.  One  night  we  came  to  a  part  of 
the  plains  which  was  very  much  broken  up  with  wood 
here  and  there,  and  bein*  a  good  place  for  water  we 
camped.  While  the  other  lads  were  gettin'  ready  the  sup- 
per, I  started  oflf  to  look  for  a  deer,  as  we  had  been  un- 
lucky that  day — ^we  had  shot  nothin'.  Well,  about  three 
miles  from  the  camp,  I  came  upon  a  band  o*  somewhere 


184 


8N0WFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


h    * 


about  tLiriy  Sicux  (ill-lookiug,  sneaking  dogs  thoj  arc, 
too  1 )  and  before  I  could  whistle,  they  rushed  upon  me, 
took  away  my  rifle  and  hunting  knife,  and  were  dancing 
round  me  like  so  many  devils.  At  last,  a  big  black- 
lookin'  thief  stepped  forward,  and  said  in  the  Cree  lan- 
guage— *  White  men  seldom  travel  through  this  country 
alone ;  where  are  your  comrades  1 '  Now,  thought  I, 
here's  a  nice  fix  I  If  I  protend  not  to  understand,  they'll 
send  out  parties  in  all  directions,  and  as  sure  as  fate 
they'll  find  my  companions  in  half  an  hour,  and  butcher 
them  in  cold  blood ;  for,  you  see,  we  did  not  expect  to  find 
Sieux,  or,  indeed,  any  Injins  in  them  parts ;  so  I  made 
believe  to  be  very  narvous,  and  tried  to  tremble  all  over 
and  look  pale.  Did  you  ever  try  to  look  pale  and  fright* 
ened,  Mr  Charles?" 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  ever  did,"  said  Charley,  laughing. 

"  You  can't  think  how  troublesome  it  is,"  continued 
Jacques,  with  a  look  of  earnest  simplicity;  "  I  shook  and 
trembled  pretty  well,  but  the  more  I  tried  to  grow  pale, 
the  more  I  grew  red  in  the  face,  and  when  I  thought  of 
the  six  broad-shouldered,  raw-boned  lads  in  the  camp,  and 
how  easy  they  would  have  made  these  jumping  villains 
fly  like  chaflf,  if  they  only  knew  the  fix  I  was  in,  I  gave 
a  frown  that  had  well-nigh  shewed  I  was  shamming. 
Hows'ever,  what  with  sh^Jdn'  a  little  more,  and  givin'  one 
or  two  most  awful  groans,  I  managed  to  deceive  them. 
Then  I  said  I  was  hunter  to  a  party  of  white  men  that 
were  travellin'  from  Red  River  to  St  Louis,  with  all 
their  goods,  and  wives,  and  children,  and  that  they  were 
away  in  the  plains  about  a  league  oK 

"  The  big  chap  looked  very  hard  into  my  face  when  I 
Btiid  tliis,  to  see  if  I  was  telling  the  truth ;  and  I  tried  to 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


18d 


make  my  teeth  chatter,  but  it  wouldn't  do,  so  I  took  to 
gioaniu  very  bad  instead.  But  them  Sieux  are  such 
awful  liars  nat'rally,  that  they  couldn't  underatand  the 
signs  of  truth,  even  if  they  saw  them.  *Whitefaced 
coward,*  says  he  to  me,  *  tell  me  in  what  direction  your 
people  are.*  At  this  I  made  believe  not  to  understand  j 
but  the  big  chap  flourished  his  knife  before  my  face, 
called  me  a  dog,  and  told  me  to  point  out  the  direction. 
I  looked  as  simple  as  I  could,  and  said  I  would  rather 
not.  At  this  they  laughed  loudly,  and  then  gave  a  yell, 
and  said  if  I  didn't  shew  them  the  direction  they  would 
roast  me  alive.  So  I  pointed  towards  a  part  of  the  plainH 
pretty  wide  o*  the  spot  where  our  camp  was.  *  Now, 
lead  us  to  them,*  said  the  big  chap,  givin'  me  a  shove 

with  the  butt  of  his  gun  ;  *  an'  if  you  have  told  lies * 

he  gave  the  handle  of  his  scalpiu'  knife  a  slap,  as  much 
as  to  say  he'd  tickle  up  my  liver  with  it.  Well,  away 
we  went  in  silence,  me  thinkin'  all  the  time  how  I  wa.s 
to  get  out  o'  the  scrape.  I  led  them  pretty  close  past  our 
camp,  hopin'  that  the  lads  would  hear  us.  I  didn't  daro 
to  yell  out,  as  that  would  have  shewed  them  there  waa 
somebody  within  hearin*,  and  they  would  have  made  uhorl> 
work  of  me.  Just  as  we  came  near  the  place  where  my 
companions  lay,  a  prairie  wolf  sprang  out  from  under  a 
bush  where  it  had  been  sleepin,'  so  I  gave  a  loud  huiTah, 
and  shied  my  cap  at  it.  Giving  a  loud  growl,  the  big 
Injin  hit  me  over  the  head  with  liis  fist,  and  told  me  to 
keep  silence.  In  a  few  minutes  I  heard  the  low  distant 
howl  of  a  wolf.  I  recognised  the  voice  of  one  of  my  com- 
rades, and  knew  that  they  had  seen  us,  and  would  be  on 
our  track  soon.  Watchin'  my  opportunity,  and  walkin' 
for  a  good  bit  as  if  I  was  awful  tired — all  but  done  up — 

N 


18G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


fl     ^ 


to  throw  them  off  their  guard,  I  suddenly  tripped  up  the 
big  chap  aa  ho  was  stepping  over  a  small  brook,  and  dived 
in  among  the  bushes.  In  a  moment  a  dozen  bullets  tore 
up  the  bark  on  the  trees  about  me,  and  an  arrow  passed 
through  my  hair.  The  clump  of  wood  into  which  I  had 
dived  was  about  half  a  mile  long;  and  as  I  could  run 
well  (I've  found  in  my  experience  that  white  men  are 
more  than  a  match  for  redskins  at  their  own  work),  I 
was  almost  out  of  range  by  the  time  I  was  forced  to  quit 
the  cover  and  take  to  the  plain.  When  the  blackguards 
got  out  of  the  cover,  too,  and  saw  me  cuttin'  ahead  like 
a  deer,  they  gave  a  yell  of  disappointment,  and  sent  an- 
other shower  of  arrows  and  bullets  after  me,  some  of 
which  came  nearer  than  was  pleasant.  I  then  headed 
for  our  camp  with  the  whole  pack  screechin'  at  my  heels. 
'  Yell  away,  you  stupid  sinners,'  thought  I  j  *  some  of 
you  shall  pay  for  your  music*  At  that  moment  an 
arrow  grazed  my  shoulder ;  and,  looking  over  it,  I  saw 
that  the  black  fellow  I  had  pitched  into  the  water  was 
far  ahead  of  the  rest,  strainin'  after  raio  like  mad,  and 
every  now  and  then  stopping  to  try  an  arrow  on  me ;  so 
I  kept  a  look  out,  and  when  I  saw  him  stop  to  draw,  I 
stopped  too,  and  dodged,  so  the  arrows  passed  me, 
and  then  we  took  to  our  heels  again.  In  this  way  I  ran 
for  dear  life,  till  I  came  up  to  the  cover.  As  I  came 
close  up  I  saw  our  six  fellows  crouchin'  in  the  bushes, 
and  one  o'  them  takin'  aim  almost  straight  for  my  face. 
*  Your  day's  come  at  last,'  thought  I,  looking  over  my 
shoulder  at  tlu  big  Injin,  who  was  drawing  his  bow 
again.  Just  then  there  was  a  sharp  crack  heard — a 
bullet  whistled  past  my  ear,  and  the  big  fellow  fell  like 
a  stone,  while  my  comrade  stood  coolly  up  to  reload  liis 


FROM  THE  FAU  AORTH. 


187 


riilo.     Tlio  Injins,  on  sccin'  thm,  pulled  up  in  a  momont ; 

and  our  lads  stepping  forward,  delivd'cd  a  volley  that 

made  three  more  o'  them  bite  tlie  dust.     There  woidd 

have  been  six  in  that  fix,  but,  somehow  or  other,  threo 

of  us  pitched  upon  the  same  man,  who  was  afterwards 

found  with  a  bullet  in  each  eye  and  one  through  hia 

heart.     They  didn't  wait  for  more,  but  turned  about  and 

bolted  like  the  wind.     Now,  Mr  Charles,  if  I  had  told 

the  truth  that  time,  we  would  have  been  all  killed ;  and 

if  I  had  simply  said  nothin'  to  their  questions,  they  would 

have  sent  out  to  scour  the  country,  and  have  found  out 

the  camp  for  sartin,  so  that  the  only  way  to  escape  waa 

by  tellin'  them  a  heap  o'  downright  lies." 

Charley  looked  very  much  pcrplexod  at  this. 

"  You  have  indeed  placed  mo  in  a  diflSculty.     I  know 

not  what  I  would  have  done.     I  don't  know  even  what  I 

ought  to  do  under  these  circumstances.     Difficulties  may 

perplex  me,  and  the  force  of  circumstances  might  tempt 

me  to  do  what  I  believed  to  be  wrong.     I  am  a  sinner, 

Jacques,  like  other  mortals,  I  know ;  but  one  thing  I  am 

quite  sure  of,  namely,  that,  when  men  speak,  it  ..?iould 

always  be  truth  and  never  falsehood." 

Jacques  looked  perplexed  too.  He  was  strongly  im- 
pressed with  the  necessity  of  telling  falsehood  in  the  cir- 
cumstances in  wliich  he  had  been  placed,  as  just  related, 
while  at  the  same  time  he  felt  deeply  the  grandeur  and 
the  power  of  Charley's  last  remark. 

" I  should  have  been  under  the  sod  now"  said  he,  " if 
I  had  not  told  a  lie  then.  Is  it  better  to  die  than  to 
speak  falsehood  ?" 

"  Some  men  have  thought  so,"  replied  Charley.  "  T 
acknowledge  the  difficulty  oft/our  case,  and  of  all  similar 


188 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


il 


cases.  I  don't  know  what  should  be  done;  but  I  have 
read  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel  whose  people  were  very 
wicked  and  would  not  attend  to  hie  instructions,  although 
tliey  could  not  but  respect  himself,  he  was  so  consistent 
and  Christianlike  in  his  conduct.  Persecution  ai'ose  in 
the  country  where  he  lived,  and  men  and  women  were 
cruelly  murdered  because  of  their  religious  belief.  For 
a  long  time  he  was  left  unmolested ;  but  one  day  a  band 
of  soldiers  came  to  his  house,  and  asked  him  whether  he 
was  a  Papist  or  a  Protestant — (Papist,  Jacques,  being  a 
man  who  has  sold  liis  liberty  in  religious  matters  to  the 
Pope,  and  a  Protestant  being  one  who  protests  against 
such  an  ineffably  silly  and  unmanly  rtate  of  slavery.)  WeU, 
his  people  urged  the  good  old  man  to  say  he  was  a  Papist, 
telling  him  that  he  would  then  be  spared  to  live  among 
them,  and  preach  the  true  faith  for  many  years  perhaps. 
Now,  if  there  was  one  thing  that  this  old  man  would  have 
toiled  for  aid  died  for,  it  was,  that  his  people  should  be- 
come true  Christians, — and  he  told  them  so,  'but,'  he  added, 
'  I  will  not  tell  a  lie  to  accomplish  that  end,  my  children; 
no,  not  even  to  save  my  life.'  So  he  told  the  soldiers 
that  he  was  a  Protestant,  and  immediately  they  carried 
him  away,  and  he  was  soon  afterwards  burned  to  death." 

"  Well,"  said  Jacques,  "  he  didn't  gain  much  by  stick- 
ing to  the  truth,  I  think." 

" I'm  not  so  sure  of  that.  The  story  gets  on  to  say, 
that  he  rejoiced  that  he  had  done  so,  and  wouldn't  draw 
back  even  when  he  was  in  the  flames.  But  the  point  lies 
here,  ^  acques  :  so  deep  an  impression  did  the  old  man's 
conduct  make  on  his  people,  that  from  that  day  forward 
they  were  noted  for  their  Christian  life  and  conduct. 
They  brought  up  their  children  with  a  deeper  reverence 


L 


FROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


189 


I  liuvo 
jre  very 
Ithough 
insistent 
ai'ose  in 
en  were 
ef.     For 
Y  a  band 
ether  he 
,  being  a 
irs  to  the 
,3  against 
jr.)  WeU, 
a  Papist, 
ire  among 
;  perhaps, 
ould  have 
honld  be- 
he  added, 
children; 
soldiers 
carried 
death." 
by  stick- 
to  say, 
In't  draw 
Doint  lies 
bid  man's 
forward 
conduct, 
bcverence 


for  the  truth  than  they  would  otherwise  have  done,  always 
bearing  in  affectionate  remembrance,  and  holding  up  to 
them  as  an  example,  the  unflinching  tmthfulness  of  the 
good  old  man  who  was  burned  in  the  year  of  the  terrible 
persecutions ;  and  at  last  their  influence  and  example  had 
such  an  effect  that  the  Protestant  religion  spread  like  wild- 
fire, far  and  wide  around  them,  so  that  the  very  thing 
was  accomplished  for  which  the  old  pastor  said  he  would 
have  died  :  accomplished,  too,  very  much  in  consequence 
of  his  death,  and  in  a  way,  and  to  an  extent  that  very 
likely  would  not  have  been  the  case,  had  he  lived  and 
preached  among  them  for  a  hundred  years." 

"  I  don't  understand  it,  nohow,"  said  Jacques,  "  it  seems 
to  me  right  both  ways  and  wrong  both  ways,  and  all  up- 
side do\vn  everyhow." 

Charley  smiled.  "  Your  remark  is  about  as  clear  as  my 
head  on  the  subject,  Jacques,  but  I  still  remain  convinced 
thai;  truth  is  right  and  that  falsehood  is  ivrong,  and  that 
we  should  stick  to  the  first  through  thick  and  thin." 

"  I  s'pose,"  remarked  the  hunter,  who  had  walked  along 
in  deep  cogitation  for  the  last  five  minutes,  and  had  aj)- 
parently  come  to  some  conclusion  of  profound  depth  and 
sagacity,  "  I  s'pose  that  it's  all  human  natur' ;  that  some 
men  takes  to  preachin'  as  Injins  take  to  huntin',  and  that 
to  understand  sich  things  requires  them  to  begin  young, 
and  risk  their  lives  in  it,  as  I  would  in  followin'  up  a 
grizzly  she-bear  with  cubs." 

"  Yonder  is  an  illustration  of  one  part  of  your  remark. 
They  begin  young  enough,  anyhow,"  said  Chai'loy,  pointing 
as  he  spoke  to  an  opening  in  the  bushes,  where  a  par- 
ticularly small  Indian  boy  stood  in  the  act  of  discharging 
an  arrow. 


I 


190 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


The  two  men  halted  to  watch  his  movements.  Accord- 
ing to  a  common  custom  among  juvenile  Indians  during 
the  warm  months  of  the  year,  he  was  dressed  in  notliing 
save  a  mere  rag  tied  round  his  waist.  His  body  was 
very  brown,  extremely  round,  fat,  and  wonderfully 
diminutive,  while  his  little  legs  and  ai*ms  were  dis- 
proportionately smalL  He  was  so  young  as  to  be  barely 
able  to  walk,  and  yet  there  he  stood,  his  black  eyes  glit- 
tering with  excitement,  his  tiny  bow  bent  to  its  utmost, 
and  a  blunt -headed  arrow  about  to  be  discharged  at  a 
squirrel,  whose  flight  had  been  suddenly  arrested  by  the 
unexpected  apparition  of  Charley  and  Jacques.  As  he 
stood  theife  for  a  single  instant,  perfectly  motionless,  he 
might  have  been  mistaken  for  a  grotesque  statue  of  an 
Indian  cupid.  Taking  advantage  of  the  squirrel's  pause, 
the  child  let  fly  the  arrow,  hit  it  exactly  on  the  point  of 
the  nose,  and  turned  it  over,  dead, — a  consummation 
which  he  greeted  with  a  rapid  succession  of  frightful 
yells. 

"  Cleverly  done,  my  lad ;  you're  a  chip  of  the  old  block, 
I  see,"  said  Jacques,  patting  the  child's  head  as  he  passed, 
and  retraced  his  steps,  with  Charley,  to  the  Indian  camp. 


I 


fllOM  THE  FAR  NOKTH. 


191 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  Feast;  Charley  makes  his  first  speech  in  public;  meets  with  an  old  triuud; 

an  evening  in  the  grass. 


Savages,  not  less  than  civilised  men,  are  fond  of  a  goo<i 
dinner.  In  saying  this,  we  do  not  expect  our  reader  to 
be  overwhelmed  with  astonishment.  He  might  have 
guessed  as  much ;  but  when  we  state  that  savages,  upon 
jiarticular  occasions,  eat  six  dinners  in  one,  and  make  it 
a  point  of  honour  to  do  so,  we  apprehend  that  we  have 
thrown  a  slightly  new  light  on  an  old  subject.  Doubt- 
less, there  are  men  in  civilised  society  who  would  do  like- 
wise if  they  could;  but  they  cannot,  fortunately,  as 
gi'eat  gastronomic  powers  are  dependent  on  severe,  health- 
ful, and  prolonged  physical  exertion.  Therefore  it  is 
that  in  England  we  find  men  capable  only  of  eating 
about  two  dinners  at  once,  and  suffering  a  good  deal  foi 
it  afterwards,  while  in  the  backwoods  we  see  men  con- 
sume a  week's  dinners  in  one,  without  any  evil  conse- 
quences following  the  act. 

The  feast  which  was  given  by  the  Knisteneux  in 
honour  of  the  visit  of  our  two  friends  was  provided  on  a 
more  moderate  scale  than  usual,  in  order  to  accommodate 
tne  capacities  of  the  "  white  men ; "  three  days'  allowance 
being  cooked  for  each  man.  (Women  are  never  admitted 
to  the  public  feasts.)  On  the  day  preceding  the  ceremony, 
Charley  and   Jacques  had  received  cards  of  invitation 


J92 


SNOWFT.AKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


!> 


i? 


from  tlic  principal  chief,  in  the  shape  of  two  quills ; 
similar  invites  being  issued  at  the  same  time  to  all  the 
braves.  Jacques,  being  accustomed  to  the  doings  of 
Indians,  and  aware  of  the  fact,  that  whatever  was  pro- 
vided for  each  man,  must  be  eaten  before  he  quittea  xhe 
scene  of  operations,  advised  Charley  to  eat  no  breakfast, 
and  to  take  a  good  walk  as  a  preparative.  Charley  had 
strong  faitli.  however,  in  his  digestive  powers,  and  felt 
much  inclined,  when  morning  came,  to  satisfy  the 
cravings  of  Ids  appetite  as  usual ;  but  Jacques  drew  such 
a,  graphic  picture  of  the  work  that  lay  before  him,  that  he 
forbore  to  urge  the  matter,  and  went  off  to  walk  with  a 
light  step,  and  an  uncomfortable  feeling  of  vacuity  about 
the  region  6f  the  stomach. 

About  noon,  the  cliiefs  and  braves  assembled  in  an 
open  enclosure  situated  in  an  exposed  place  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  where  the  proceedings  were  watched  by  the 
women,  children,  and  dogs.  The  oldest  chief  sat  himself 
down  on  the  turf  at  one  end  of  the  enclosure,  with 
Jacques  Caradoc  on  his  right  hand,  and  next  to  him. 
Charley  Kennedy,  who  had  ornamented  himself  with  a 
blue  stripe  painted  down  the  middle  of  his  nose,  and  a 
red  bar  across  his  chin.  Charley's  propensity  for  fun 
had  led  him  thus  to  decorate  his  face,  in  spite  of  his 
companion's  remonstrances,  urging,  by  way  of  excuse, 
that  worthy's  former  argument,  "  that  it  was  well  to  fall 
in  with  the  ways  o'  the  people  a  man  happened  to  be 
among,  so  long  as  these  ways  and  customs  were  not  con- 
trary to  what  was  right."  Now,  Charley  was  sure  there 
was  nothing  wi'ong  in  his  painting  his  nose  skyblue,  if  he 
tliought  fit. 

Jacques  thought  it  was  absurd,  and  entertained  the 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


193 


opinion  that  it  would  be  more  dignified  to  leave  his  face 
"  its  nat'ral  colour." 

Charley  didn't  agree  with  him  at  all.  He  thought  it 
would  be  paying  the  Indians  a  high  compliment  to  foUow 
their  customs  as  far  as  possible,  and  said,  that,  after  all, 
his  blue  nose  would  not  be  veiy  conspicuous,  as  he 
(Jacques)  had  told  him  that  he  would  "  look  blue"  at  any 
rate,  when  he  saw  the  quantity  of  deer's  meat  he  should 
have  to  devour. 

Jacques  laughed  at  this,  but  suggested  that  the  bar 
across  his  chin  was  red.  Whereupon  Charley  said  that 
he  could  easily  neutralise  that  by  putting  a  green  star 
under  each  eye.  And  then  uttered  a  fervent  wish  that  his 
friend  Harry  Somerville  could  only  see  him  in  that  guise. 
Finding  him  incorrigible,  Jacques,  who,  notwithstanding 
his  remonstrances,  was  more  than  half- imbued  with 
Charley's  spirit,  gave  in,  and  accompanitd  him  to  the 
feast,  himself  decorated  with  the  additional  ornament  of  a 
red  night-cap,  to  whose  crown  was  attached  a  tuft  of 
white  feathers. 

A  fire  burned  in  the  centre  of  the  enclosure,  round 
which  the  Indians  seated  themselves  according  to  seni- 
ority, and  with  deep  solemnity ;  for  it  is  a  trait  in  the 
Indian's  character  that  all  his  ceremonies  are  performed 
with  extreme  gravity.  Each  man  brought  a  dish  or 
platter,  and  a  wooden  spoon. 

The  old  chief,  whose  hair  was  very  gray,  and  his  face 
covered  with  old  wounds  and  scars,  received  either  in  war 
or  in  hunting,  having  seated  himself,  allowed  a  few 
minutes  to  elapse  in  silence,  during  which  the  company 
sat  motionless ;  gazing  at  their  plates  as  if  they  half 
expected   them    to   become    converted    into  beefsteaks. 


. 


J 


'il 


i'': 


194 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


While  tlicy  were  seated  thus,  another  party  of  Indians, 
who  had  been  absent  on  a  hunting  expedition,  strode 
rapidly  but  noiselessly  into  the  enclosure,  and  seated 
themselves  in  the  circle.  One  of  these  passed  close  to 
Charley,  and  in  doing  so  stooped,  took  his  hand,  and 
pressed  it.  Charley  looked  up  in  surprise,  and  beheld 
the  face  of  his  old  friend  Redfeather,  gazing  at  him 
with  an  expression  in  which  was  mingled  affection, 
surprise,  and  amusement  at  the  peculiar  alteration  in  his 


visage. 


"  Redfeather ! "  exclaimed  Charley,  in  delight,  half 
rising ;  but  the  Indian  pressed  him  down. 

"  You'  must  not  rise,"  he  whispered,  and,  giving  his 
hand  another  squeeze,  passed  round  the  circle,  and  took 
his  place  directly  opposite. 

Having  continued  motionless  for  five  minutes  with 
becoming  gravity,  the  company  began  operations  by  pro- 
ceeding to  smoke  out  of  the  sacred  stem,  a  ceremony  which 
precedes  all  occasions  of  importance ;  and  is  conducted  as 
follows  : — The  sacred  stem  is  placed  on  two  forked  sticks 
to  pi-event  its  touching  the  ground,  as  that  would  be  con- 
sidered a  great  evil  A  stone  pipe  is  then  filled  with 
tobacco,  by  an  attendant  appointed  specially  to  that  office, 
and  affixed  to  the  stem,  which  is  presented  to  the  prin- 
cipal chief.  That  individual,  with  a  gravity  and  hauteur 
that  is  unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of  pomposity,  receives 
the  pipe  in  both  hands?,  blows  a  puff  to  the  east  (probably 
in  consequence  of  its  being  the  quarter  wnence  the  sur; 
rises)  and  thereafter  pays  a  similar  mark  of  attention  to 
the  other  three  points.  He  then  raises  the  pipe  above 
his  head,  points  and  balances  it  in  various  directions  (for 
what  reason  and  with  what  end  in  view  is  best  known  to 


if 

I  : 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


195 


himself),  and  replaces  it  agaiu  on  the  forks.  The  com- 
pany meanwhile  observe  his  proceedings  with  sedate 
interest,  evidently  imbued  with  the  idea  that  they  are 
deriving  from  the  ceremony  a  vast  amount  of  edification ; 
an  idea  which  is  helped  out,  doubtless,  by  the  appearance 
of  the  women  and  children,  who  surround  the  enclosure, 
and  gaze  at  the  proceedings  with  looks  of  awe-struck 
seriousness  that  is  quite  solemnising  to  behold. 

The  chief  then  makes  a  speech  relative  to  the  circum- 
stance which  has  called  them  together ;  and  which  is 
always  more  or  less  interlarded  with  boastful  reference  to 
his  own  deeds,  past,  present,  and  prospective,  eulogistic 
remarks  on  those  of  his  forefathers,  and  a  general  con- 
demnation of  all  other  Indian  tribes  whatever.  These 
speeches  are  usually  delivered  with  great  animation,  and 
contain  much  poetic  allusion  to  the  objects  of  nature  that 
surround  the  homes  of  the  savage.  The  sjieech  being 
finished,  the  chief  sits  down  amid  a  univei'sal  "  Ho ! "  ut- 
tered by  the  company  with  an  emphatic  prolongation  of 
the  last  letter — this  syllable  being  the  Indian  substitute, 
we  presume,  for  "  rapturous  applause." 

The  chief  who  officiated  on  the  present  occasion,  having 
accomplished  the  opening  ceremonies  thus  far,  sat  down, 
whUe  the  pipe-bearer  presented  the  sacred  stem  to  the 
membei*s  of  the  company  in  succession,  each  of  whom 
drew  a  few  whifis  and  mumbled  a  few  words. 

"  Do  as  you  see  the  redskins  do,  Mr  Charles,"  whis- 
pered Jacques,  while  the  pipe  was  going  round. 

"  That's  impossible,"  replied  Charley,  in  a  tone  that 
could  not  be  heard  except  by  his  friend.  "  I  couldn't  make 
a  face  of  hideous  solemnity  like  that  black  thief  opposite, 
if  I  was  to  try  ever  so  hard." 


196 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


(i 


"  Don't  let  them  think  you're  laughing  at  thera,'*  re- 
tiirned  the  hunter ;  "  they  would  be  ill-pleased  if  they 
thought  so." 

"  I'll  try,"  said  Charley,  "  but  it  is  hard  work,  Jacques, 
to  keep  from  laughing ;  I  feel  like  a  high  pressure  steam- 
engine  already.  There's  a  woman  standing  out  there  with  a 
little  brown  baby  on  her  back;  she  has  quite  fascinated  me ; 
I  can't  keep  my  eyes  off  her,  and  if  she  goes  on  contort- 
ing her  visage  much  longer,  I  feel  that  I  shall  give  way." 

"Hush!" 

At  this  moment  the  pipe  was  presented  to  Charley, 
who  j)ut  it  to  his  lips,  drew  three  whiffs,  and  returned  it 
with  a  bland  smile  to  the  bearer. 

The  smile  was  a  veiy  sweet  one,  for  that  was  a  peculiar 
tiuit  in  the  native  urbanity  of  Charley's  disposition,  and 
it  would  have  gone  far  in  civilised  society  to  prepossess 
strangers  in  his  favour  ;  but  it  lowered  him  considerably 
in  the  estimation  of  his  red  friends,  who  entertained  a 
wholesome  feeling  of  contempt  for  any  appearance  of  levity 
on  high  occasions.  But  Charley's  face  was  of  that  agree- 
able stamp,  that,  though  gentle  and  bland  when  lighted 
up  with  a  smile,  is  particularly  masculine  and  manly  in 
expression  when  in  repose,  and  the  frown  that  knit  his 
brows  when  he  observed  the  bad  impression  he  had  given, 
almost  reinstated  him  in  their  esteem.  But  his  popularity 
became  great,  and  the  admiration  of  his  swarthy  friends 
greater,  when  he  rose  and  made  an  eloquent  speech  in 
English,  which  Jacques  translated  -into  the  Indian  lan- 
guage. 

He  told  them,  in  reply  to  the  chief's  oration  (wherein 
that  warrior  had  complimented  his  pale-faced  brothers  on 
their  numerous  good  qualities)  that  hp  was  delighted  and 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


107 


proud  to  meet  with  his  Indian  friends;  that  the  object  of 
nis  mission  was  to  acquaint  them  with  the  fact  that  a  n.w 
trading  fort  was  established  not  far  off,  by  himself  and  his 
comrades,  for  their  special  benefit  and  behoof;  that  the 
stores  were  full  of  goods  which  he  hoped  they  would  soon 
obtain  possession  of,  in  exchange  for  furs ;  that  he  had 
travelled  a  great  distance  on  purjiose  to  see  their  land  and 
tiscertain  its  capabilities  in  the  way  of  fur-bearing  animals 
and  game  ;  that  he  had  not  been  disappointed  in  his  ex- 
pectations, as  he  had  found  the  animals  to  be  as  numerous 
as  bees,  the  fish  plentiful  in  the  rivers  and  lakes,  and 
the  country  at  large  a  perfect  paradise.     He  proceeded  to 
tell  them  further  that  he  expected  they  would  justify  the 
report  he  had  heard  of  them,  that  they  were  a  brave  nation 
and  good  hunters,  by  bringing  in  large  quantities  of  furs. 
Being  strongly  urged  by  Jacques  to  compliment  them 
on  their  various  good  qualities,  Charley  launched  out  into 
an  extravagantly  poetic  vein,  said  that  he  had  heard  (but 
he  hoped  to  have  many  opportunities  of  seeing  it  proved) 
that  there  was  no  nation  under  the  sun  equal  to  them  in 
bravery,  activity,  and  perseverance  ;  that  he  had  heard  of 
men  in  olden  times  who  made  it  their  profession  to  fight 
with  wild  bulls  for  the  amusement  of  their  friends,  but 
he  had  no  doubt  whatever  their  courage  would  be  made 
conspicuous  in  the  way  of  fighting  wild  bears  and  bufialoes, 
not  for  the  amusement,  but  the  benefit  of  their  wives  and 
children  (he  might  have  added  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, but  he  didn't,  supposing  that  that  was  self-evident, 
probably.)     He  complimented  them  on  the  way  in  which 
they  had  conducted  themselves  in  war  in  times  past,  com- 
paring their  stealthy  approach  to  enemies'  camps,  to  the 
insidious  snake  that  glides  among  the  bushes  and  daits 


198 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


unexpectedly  on  its  prey ;  said  that  their  eyes  were  sharp 
to  follow  the  war-trail  through  the  forest  or  over  the  dry 
sward  of  the  prairie  ;  their  aim  with  gun  or  bow  true  and 
sure  as  the  flight  of  the  goose  when  it  leaves  the  lands  of 
the  sun,  and  points  its  beak  to  the  icy  regions  of  the 
north  ;  their  war-whoops  loud  as  the  thunders  of  the 
cataract ;  and  their  sudden  onset  like  the  lightning  flash 
that  darts  from  the  sky  and  scattera  the  stout  oak  in 
splinters  on  the  plain. 

At  this  point  Jacques  expressed  his  satisfiiction  at  the 
style  in  which  his  young  friend  was  progressing. 

"  That's  your  sort,  Mr  Charles.  Don't  spare  the 
butter,  i  Lay  it  on  thick.  You've  not  said  too  much 
yet,  for  they  are  a  brave  race,  that's  a  fact,  as  I've  good 
reason  to  know." 

Jacques,  however,  did  not  feel  quite  so  well  satisfied 
when  Charley  went  on  to  tell  them  that,  although  bravery 
in  war  was  an  admirable  thing,  war  itself  was  a  thing  not  at 
all  to  be  desired,  and  should  only  be  undertaken  in  case  of 
necessity.  He  especially  pointed  out  that  there  was  not 
much  glory  to  be  earned  in  fighting  against  the  Chipe- 
wyans,  who,  everybody  knew,  were  a  poor,  timid  set  of 
people,  whom  they  ought  rather  to  pity  than  to  destroy  j 
and  recommended  them  to  devote  themselves  more  to  the 
ch.ase  than  they  had  done  in  times  past,  and  less  to  the 
prosecution  of  war  in  time  to  come. 

All  this,  and  a  great  deal  more,  did  Charley  say,  in  a 
manner,  and  with  a  rapidity  of  utterance,  that  surprised 
himself,  when  he  considered  the  fact  that  he  had  never 
adventured  into  the  field  of  public  speaking  before.  All 
this,  and  a  great  deal  more — a  veri/  gi-eat  deal  more — did 
Jacques  Caradoc  interpret  to  the  admiring  Indians,  who 


PKOM  THE  FAB  NOllTII. 


199 


Hstenod  with  the  utmost  gravity  and  profound  attention, 
gi'ecting  tlie  close  with  a  very  emphatic  "  Ho  ! " 

Jacques'  translation  was  by  no  means  perfect.  Many 
of  the  flights  into  which  Charley  ventured,  especially  in 
regard  to  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  savages  of 
ancient  Greece  and  Rome,  were  quite  incomprehensible 
to  the  worthy  backwoodsman — but  he  invariably  pro- 
ceeded, when  Charley  halted,  giving  a  flight  of  his  own 
when  at  a  loss,  varying  and  modifying  when  he  thought  it 
advisable,  and  altering,  adding,  or  cutting  oflf  as  he  pleased. 

Several  other  chiefs  addressed  the  assembly,  and  then 
dinner,  if  we  may  so  call  it,  was  served.  In  Cliarley's 
case,  it  was  breakfast.  To  the  Indians,  it  was  breakfast, 
dinner,  and  supper  in  one.  It  consisted  of  a  large  platter 
of  dried  meat,  reindeer  tongues  (considered  a  great  deli- 
cacy), and  marrow-bones. 

Notwithstanding  the  gi'aphic  power  with  which 
Jacques  had  prepared  his  young  companion  for  this  meal, 
Charley's  heart  sank  when  he  beheld  the  mountain  of 
boiled  meat  that  was  placed  before  him.  He  was  raven- 
ously hungry,  it  is  true,  but  it  was  patent  to  his  percep- 
tion at  a  glance,  that  no  powers  of  gormandising  of  which 
he  was  capable  could  enable  him  to  consume  the  mass  in 
the  course  of  one  day. 

Jacques  observed  his  consternation,  and  was  not  a  little 
entertained  by  it,  although  his  face  wore  an  expression  of 
profound  gravity,  while  he  proceeded  to  attack  his  own 
dish,  which  was  equal  to  that  of  his  friend. 

Before  commencing,  a  small  portion  of  meat  was  thrown 
into  the  fire,  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  Great  Master  of  Life. 

"  How  they  do  eat,  to  be  sure  ! "  whispered  Charley  to 
Jacques,  after  he  had  glanced  in  wonder  at  the  circle  of 


ii 


?, 


'! 


200 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


men  wlio  wore  devouring  their  food  with  the  most  extra/* 
ordinary  rapidity. 

"  Why,  you  must  know,"  replied  Jacques,  "  that  it's 
considered  a  point  of  honour  to  get  it  over  soon,  and  the 
man  that  is  done  first  gets  most  credit.  But  it's  hard 
work  "  (he  sighed  and  paused  a  little  to  breathe),  "and  I've 
not  got  half  through  yet." 

"  It's  quite  plain  that  I  must  lose  credit  with  them,  then, 
if  it  depends  on  my  eating  that.  Tell  me,  Jacques,  is  there 
no  way  of  escape'?    JMust  I  sit  here  till  it  is  all  consumed  1 " 

"  No  doubt  of  it.  Every  bit  that  has  been  cooked 
must  be  crammed  down  our  throats  somehow  or  other." 

Charley  heaved  a  deep  sigh,  and  made  another  des- 
perate attiick  on  a  large  steak,  while  the  Indians  around 
him  made  considerable  progress  in  reducing  their  respec- 
tive mountains. 

Several  times  Charley  and  Redfeather  exchanged 
glances  as  they  paused  in  their  labours. 

"  I  say,  Jacques,"  said  Charley,  pulling  up  once  more. 
"  how  do  you  get  on  1  Pretty  well  stufied  by  this  time, 
I  should  imagine  1 " 

"  Oh,  no  !     I've  a  good  deal  o'  room  yet." 

"  I  give  in.  Credit  or  disgrace,  it's  all  one.  I'll  not 
make  a  pig  of  myself  for  any  redskin  in  the  land," 

Jacques  smiled. 

"  See,"  continued  Charley,  "  there's  a  fellow  opposite 
who  has  devoured  as  much  as  would  have  served  me  for 
three  days,  I  don't  know  whether  it's  imagination  or 
not,  but  I  do  verily  believe  that  he's  blacker  in  the  face 
than  when  he  sat  down  !" 

"  Very  likely,"  replied  Jacques,  wiping  Ids  lips  j  "  now 
I've  done," 


FBOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


201 


lost  OXtlU" 


"  Done  1  you  have  1  ft  at  least  a  thii-d  of  your  supply." 

"  Time,  and  I  may  ua  well  tell  you  for  your  comfort, 
that  there  is  one  way  of  escape  open  to  you.  It  is  a  cus- 
tom among  these  fellows,  that  when  any  one  cannot  gulp 
his  share  o'  the  prog,  he  may  got  help  from  any  of  hia 
friends  who  can  cram  it  down  their  throats  ;  and  as  there 
are  always  such  fellows  among  these  Injins,  they  seldom 
have  any  difficulty." 

"  A  moat  convenient  practice,"  replied  Charley ;  '*  I'll 
adopt  it  at  once." 

Charley  turned  to  his  next  neighbour  with  the  intent 
to  beg  of  liim  to  eat  his  remnant  of  the  feast. 

"  Bless  my  heart,  Jacques,  I've  no  chance  with  the 
fellow  on  my  left  hand  j  he's  stuffed  quite  full  already,  and 
is  not  quite  done  with  his  own  share." 

"  Never  feai*,"  replied  his  Mend,  looking  at  the  indi- 
vidual in  question,  who  was  languidly  lii'ting  a  marrow- 
bone to  his  lips,  "  he'll  do  it  easy,  I  knows  the  gauge  o 
them  chaps,  and,  for  ail  his  sleepy  look  just  now,  he's 
game  for  a  lot  more." 

"  Impossible,"  replied  Charley,  looking  in  despair  at  his 
unfinished  viands  and  then  at  the  Indian.  A  glance  round 
the  circle  seemed  further  to  convince  him  that  if  he  did 
not  eat  it  himself,  there  were  none  of  the  party  likely  to 
do  so. 

"  You'll  have  to  give  him  a  good  lump  o'  tobacco  to  do 
it,  though  J  he  won't  undertake  so  much  for  a  trifle,  I  can 
tell  you."  Jacques  chuckled  as  he  said  this,  and  handed 
his  own  portion  over  to  another  Indian,  who  readily 
undertook  to  finish  it  for  him. 

"  He'll  burst ;  I  feel  certain  of  that,"  said  Charley,  with 
a  deep  sigh,  as  he  surveyed  his  friend  on  the  left. 


() 


^^ 


^ 


ii 


li 


I 


202 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


At  last  he  took  courage  to  propose  the  thing  to  hiin, 
and,  just  as  the  man  finished  the  last  morsel  of  his  own 
repast,  Charley  placed  his  own  plate  before  him,  with  a 
look  that  seemed  to  say,  "  Eat  it,  my  friend,  if  you  can.'* 

The  Indian,  much  to  his  surprise,  immediately  com- 
menced to  it,  and  in  less  than  half-an-hour  the  whole 
was  disposed  of. 

During  this  scene  of  gluttony,  one  of  the  chiefs  enter- 
tained the  assembly  with  a  wild  and  most  unmusical  chaunt, 
to  which  he  beat  time  on  a  sort  of  tambourine,  while  the  wo- 
men outside  of  the  enclosure  beat  a  similar  accompaniment. 

"  I  say,  master,"  whispered  Jacques,  "  it  seems  to  my 
observation  that  the  fellow  you  called  Redfeather  eats  less 
than  any  Injin  I  ever  saw.  He  has  got  a  comrade  to  eat 
more  than  half  of  his  share  ;  now  that's  strange." 

"It  won't  appear  strange,  Jacques,  when  I  tell  you 
that  Bedfeather  has  lived  much  more  among  white  men 
than  Indians  during  the  last  ten  years,  and  although 
voyageurs  eat  an  enormous  quantity  of  food,  they  don't 
make  it  a  point  of  honour,  as  these  fellows  seem  to  do,  to 
eat  much  more  than  enough.  Besides,  Bedfeather  is  a 
very  different  man  from  those  around  him  ;  he  has  been 
partially  educated  by  the  missionaries  on  Playgreen  Lake, 
and  I  think  has  a  strong  leaning  towards  them." 

While  they  were  thus  conversing  in  whispers,  Bed- 
feather rose,  and,  holding  forth  his  hand,  delivered  himself 
of  the  following  oration  : — 

"  The  time  has  come  for  Bedfeather  to  speak.  He  has 
kept  silence  for  many  moons  now ;  but  his  heart  has  been 
full  of  words.  It  is  too  fulL  He  must  speak  now. 
Redfeather  has  fought  with  his  tribe  and  has  been  ac- 
counted a  brave,  and  one  who  loves  his  people. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


203 


a  hiin, 
is  own 
with  a 
cany 
[y  com- 
wliole 

3  enter- 

cliaiint, 

stbewo- 

Lniinent. 

A  tomy 

eats  less 

ie  to  eat 
* 

tell  you 
ite  men 
although 
y  don't 
|to  do,  to 
;her  is  a 
Ihas  been 
[en  Iiake, 

3rs,  Red- 
himself 

He  has 
Ihas  beer 
lak  now. 
I  been  ac- 
le. 


is  true.  He  does  love,  even  more  than  they  can  un- 
derstand. His  friends  know  that  he  has  never  feared  to 
face  danger  or  death  in  their  defence,  and  that,  if  it  were 
necessary,  he  woiild  do  so  stiU.  But  Redfcather  is  going 
to  leave  his  people  now.  His  heart  is  heavy  at  the  thought. 
Perhaps  many  moons  will  come  and  go,  many  snows  may 
fall  and  melt  away  before  he  sees  his  people  again ;  and  it  is 
this  that  makes  him  full  of  sorrow,  it  is  this  that  makes 
his  head  to  droop  like  the  branches  of  the  weeping  willow." 

Redfeather  paused  at  this  point,  but  not  a  sound  escaped 
from  the  listening  circle  :  the  Indians  were  evidently  taken 
by  surprise  at  this  abrupt  announcement.  He  pro- 
ceeded : — 

"  When  Redfeather  travelled  not  long  since  with  the 
white  men,  he  met  with  a  pale-face,  who  came  from  the 
other  side  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake  towards  the  rising  sun. 
This  man  was  called  by  some  of  the  people  a  missionary. 
He  spoke  wonderful  words  in  the  ears  of  Redfeather. 
He  told  him  of  things  about  the  Great  Spirit  which  he 
did  not  know  before,  and  he  asked  Redfeather  to  go  and 
help  him  to  speak  to  the  Indians  about  these  strange 
things.  Redfeather  wotdd  not  go.  He  loved  his  people 
too  much,  and  he  thought  that  the  words  of  the  mission- 
ary seemed  foolishness.  But  he  has  thought  much  about 
it  since.  He  does  not  understand  the  strange  things  that 
were  told  to  him,  and  he  has  tried  to  forget  them,  but  he 
cannot.  He  can  get  no  rest.  He  hears  strange  sounds 
in  the  breeze  that  shakes  the  pine.  He  thinks  that  there 
are  voices  in  the  waterfall;  the  rivers  seem  to  speak. 
Redfeather's  spirit  is  vexed.  The  Great  Spirit,  perhaps, 
is  talking  to  him.  He  has  resolved  to  go  to  the  dwelling 
of  the  missionary  and  stay  with  liim." 


204 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


i. 


The  Indian  paused  again,  but  still  no  sound  escaped 
from  his  comrades.  Dropping  his  voice  to  a  soft  plain- 
tive tone,  he  continued — 

"  But  Rcdfeatlier  loves  his  kindred.  He  desires  very 
much  that  they  should  hear  the  things  that  the  missionary 
said.  He  spoke  of  the  happy  hunting  grounds  to  which 
the  spirits  of  our  fathers  have  gone,  and  said  that  we 
required  a  guide  to  lead  us  there  j  that  there  was  but  one 
guide,  whoso  name,  he  said,  was  Jesus.  Redfeather  would 
stay  and  hunt  with  his  people,  but  his  spirit  is  troubled ; 
he  cannot  rest ;  he  must  go  ! " 

Redfeather  sat  down,  and  a  long  silence  ensued.  His 
words  had  evidently  taken  the  whole  party  by  surpiise, 
although  not  a  countenance  there  shewed  the  smallest 
symptom  of  astonishment,  except  that  of  Charley  Ken- 
nedy, whose  intercourse  with  Indians  had  not  yet  been 
so  great  as  to  have  taught  him  to  conceal  his  feelings. 

At  length  the  old  chief  rose,  and,  after  complimenting 
Redfeather  on  his  bravery  in  general,  and  admitting  that 
he  had  shewn  much  love  to  his  people  on  all  occasions, 
went  into  the  subject  of  his  quitting  them  at  some  length. 
He  reminded  him  that  there  were  evil  spirits  as  well  as 
good  j  that  it  was  not  for  him  to  say  which  kind  had 
been  troubling  him,  but  that  he  ought  to  consider  well 
before  he  went  to  live  altogether  with  pale-faces.  Several 
other  speeches  were  made,  some  to  the  same  effect,  and 
others  applauding  his  resolve.  These  latter  had,  perhaps, 
some  idea  that  liis  bringing  the  pale-faced  missionaiy 
among  them  would  gratify  their  taste  for  the  marvellous — 
a  taste  that  is  pretty  strong  in  all  uneducated  minds. 

One  man,  however,  was  particularly  urgent  in  en- 
deavouring to  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose.     He  wa.s  a 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


205 


tiill,  low-browed  mai ;  muscular  and  well  built,  but  pos- 
sessed of  a  most  vjllanous  expression  of  countenance. 
From  a  remark  that  fell  from  one  of  the  company, 
Charley  discovered  that  his  name  was  Misconna,  and  so 
learned,  to  his  surprise,  that  he  was  the  very  Indian 
mentioned  by  Redfeather  as  the  man  who  had  been  hia 
rival  for  the  hand  of  Wabisca,  and  who  had  so  cruelly 
killed  the  wife  of  the  poor  trapper  the  night  on  which 
tlie  Chipewyan  camp  was  attacked,  and  the  people  slaugh- 
tered. 

What  reason  Misconna  had  for  objecting  so  strongly  to 
Redfeiither's  leaving  the  community  no  one  could  tell, 
although  some  of  those  who  knew  his  unforgiving  nat\ire 
suspected  that  he  still  entertained  the  hope  of  being  able, 
some  day  or  other,  to  wreak  his  vengeance  on  his  old  rival. 
But,  whatever  was  his  object,  he  failed  in  moving  Red- 
feather's  resolution ;  and  it  wb.  at  last  admitted  by  the 
whole  party  that  Redfeather  was  a  "  wise  chief ; "  that  he 
knew  best  what  ought  to  be  done  under  the  circum- 
stances, and  it  was  hoped  that  his  promised  visit,  in  com- 
pany with  the  missionary,  would  not  be  delayed  many 
moons. 

That  night,  in  the  deep  shadow  of  the  trees,  by  the 
brook  that  murmured  near  the  Indian  camp,  while  the 
stars  twinkled  through  the  branches  overhead,  Charley 
introduced  Redfeather  to  his  friend  Jacques  Caradoc,  and  a 
friendship  was  struck  up  between  the  bold  hunter  and 
the  red-man,  that  grow  and  strengthened  as  each  suc- 
cessive day  made  them  acquainted  with  their  respective 
good  qualities.  In  the  same  place,  and  with  the  same 
stars  looking  down  upon  them,  it  was  further  agreed  that 
Redfeather  should  accompany  his  new  friends,  taking  hia 


^ 


206 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


wife  along  witli  him  in  another  canoe,  as  far  as  their 
several  routes  led  them  in  the  same  direction,  which  was 
about  four  or  five  days'  journey ;  and  that  wliile  the  one 
party  diverged  towards  the  fort  at  Stoney  Creek,  the 
other  should  pursue  its  coui*se  to  the  missionary  station 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  Winipeg. 

But  tliere  was  a  snake  in  the  grass  there  that  they 
little  suspected.  Misconna  had  crept  through  the  bushes 
after  them,  with  a  degi'ee  of  caution  that  might  have 
baffled  their  vigilance,  even  had  they  suspected  treason  in 
a  friendly  camp.  He  lay  listening  intently  to  all  their 
plans,  and  when  they  returned  to  their  camp,  he  rose  out 
from  tj,mong  the  bushes,  like  a  dark  spirit  of  evil,  clutched 
the  handle  of  his  scalping-knife,  and  gave  utterance  to  a 
malicious  growl;  then,  walking  hastily  after  them^  Ma 
dusky  figure  was  soon  concealed  among  the  trees. 


* , 


FUOM  TH£  FAR  NOKTU. 


207 


CHAPTER  XVL 


The  return;  nairow  escape;  a  murderous  attempt,  which  fails;  and  a  discovery. 


All  nature  was  joyous  and  brilliant,  and  bright  and  beau- 
tiful. Morning  was  still  very  young — about  an  hour  old. 
Sounds  of  the  most  cheerful  light-hearted  chai-acter  floated 
over  the  waters  and  echoed  through  the  woods,  as  birds 
and  beasts  hurried  to  and  fro  with  all  the  bustling  energy 
that  betokened  preparation  and  search  for  breakfast. 
Fish  leaped  in  the  pools  with  a  rapidity  that  brought  for- 
cibly to  mind  that  wise  saying,  "  The  more  hurry,  the 
less  speed,"  for  they  appeared  constantly  to  miss  their 
mark,  although  they  jumped  twice  their  own  length  out 
of  the  water  in  the  effort. 

Ducks  and  geese  sprang  from  their  liquid  beds  with  an 
amazing  amount  of  unnecessary  splutter,  as  if  they  had 
awakened  to  the  sudden  consciousness  of  being  late  for 
breakfast,  then  alighted  in  the  water  again  with  a  squash, 
on  finding  (probably)  that  it  was  too  early  for  that  meal, 
but,  observing  other  flocks  passing  and  re-passing  on  noisy 
wing,  took  to  flight  again,  unable  apparently  to  restrain 
their  feelings  of  delight  at  the  freshness  of  the  morning 
air,  the  brightness  of  the  rising  sun,  and  the  sweet  perfume 
of  the  dewy  verdure,  as  the  mists  cleared  away  over  the 
tree-tops  and  lost  themselves  in  the  blue  sky.  Everything 
seemed  instinct  not  only  with  life,  but  with  a  large  amount 


r  I 


208 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I<  if 


of  superabundant  energy.  Earth,  air,  sky,  animal,  vege- 
table and  mineral,  solid  and  liquid,  all  were  either  ac- 
tually in  a  state  of  lively  exulting  motion,  or  had  a  pecu- 
liarly sprightly  look  about  them,  as  if  nature  had  just 
burst  out  of  prison  m  masses  and  gone  raving  mad  with 

joy- 
Such  was  the  delectable  state  of  things  the  morning  on 

which  two  canoes  darted  from  the  camp  of  the  Kniste- 

neux,  amid  many  expressions  of  good-will.     One  canoe 

contained  our  two  friends,  Charley  and  Jacques ;  the  other 

Redfeather  and  his  wife  Wabisca. 

A  few  strokes  of  the  paddle  shot  them  out  into  the 
stream,  which  carried  them  rapidly  away  from  the  scene 
...  their  late  festivities.  In  five  minutes  they  swept 
round  a  point,  which  shut  them  out  from  view,  and  they 
were  swiftly  descending  those  rapid  rivers  th^t  had  cost 
Charley  and  Jacques  so  much  labour  to  ascend. 

"  Look  out  for  rocks  ahead,  Mr  Charles,"  cried  Jacques, 
as  he  steered  the  light  bark  into  the  middle  of  a  rapid, 
which  they  had  avoided  when  ascending,  by  making  a 
portage.  "  Keep  well  to  the  left  o'  yon  swirL  ParhleUj 
if  we  touch  the  rock  there,  it'll  be  all  over  with  us." 

"All  right,"  was  Charley's  laconic  reply.  And  so  it 
proved,  for  their  canoe,  after  getting  fairly  into  the  run 
of  the  rapid,  was  evidently  under  the  complete  command 
of  its  expert  crew,  and  darted  forward  amid  the  foaming 
waters,  like  a  thing  instinct  with  life.  Now  it  careered 
and  plunged  over  the  waves,  where  the  rough  bed  of  the 
stream  made  them  more  than  usually  turbulent.  Anon 
it  flew  with  increased  rapidity  through  a  narrow  gap 
where  the  compressed  water  was  smooth  and  black,  but 
deep  and  powerful,  rendering  great  care  necessary  to 


lal,  vege- 
sitlier  ac- 
i  a  pecu- 
had  just 
nad  with 


)ming  on 
)  Kniste- 


1/ 


p: 


)•  -.•*'.. 


.^*f  <-. 


r<s« 


m 


^A: 


.■'"V- 


►"■  / 


%''V. 


.-■*>^':       i\#-.         ■i'^". 


j3;j»yl  L>,-ti 


^'1 


.,w 


«-i«l»««f^^ 


1i 


"l?^ 


,      t>£PAFiTURE  OF  CHflt 


iKb  tMMlA- 


•<  f 


2U8 

of 


^.f.i 


> 

.  »  „"•       ivi 'th,  riiiv  sky,  auimal,  v«:gf- 

■  '*'•■     ,«*.!.!  fwM'.   il-pini,  iJI  .WL-ro  ciutcr  a<> 

.    fjf    .V.S    i.Miltiii!,'  motion,  r.r  li;»<i  a  )>ea»r 

io    fiMn    11,  i..s  if  naUiro  hud  jufat 

,--■        i  .(«..UC'  nvsiiig  ttiad  wiih 


»   li  ,    ,  .,  "    •'    .  .;  .  • '.*'  v-;  ■^'  ,■     'f  tlu;    K'lisU'- 

,.  i..  ,  •. ,    •      T,  ■  ..xion.s  '-l  ;.T<'j>(iwi!!.     Oao  oaooe 

•...■•.'  .,^      i  -'Vii-tv*  •  »i-f  nT}.  <^'»ft.rlfy  and  J;u''],;;i.>.s  ;  the  other 
l?<.:<:'Mirli'-r  :\ud  Ii>  rifo  >V{.biMca. 

A  frw  B!.r'.ices  '  r''!i«-' ];-.!l..iie  ^liot  tl  cm  oyio  inff  I'lf 
stroaui.  \.luch  ciu-ritHi  U.OTn  rajildly  awny  frora  the  KCfcijii 
of  xh^'iV  V'Aa  fi'.:.livi-it;s  in  t>-  o  ndnntos  they  hv/c)»^. 
iv'iptd'a  mint,  v,-liioii  cilait  tJiOJU  oat  froru  ^•icv/•,  arxd  tbi^'; 
\W'!«'i  f, -vlnly  (^-■r■  '  '^;"!;  1  •»>.'(  ,  ''I  .-i-iftT-s  tJiiA  Lad  eo.-s 
Oi;ia!   V  ■^:i.f    '  t'^,  ^  •   '  •■^i'  '/.  ^.r  t-:^ii:-. •'.,•! id, 

'  !..•.'.;  cvt  tir  r^'K  k-  i-J.-ivi,  Mr  Oharlra/'  cviod  JuCqut,-;., 
fcii  h.-  •>:.  Te-l  tlio  light  Turk  i»i>  {"'^e  rniddlo  of  i.v.ia.pi.u 
tcu.  ti  •■.;i.-y  hy.J  ft''.Hk'>!  vd^^  v.  ?>soondiir^  by  Trjalar-.t/  w 
t'^it^'''^:'.  i"  uf\:i  A. •'  *•«.  '.h'l  ivil  o'  you  sv-'irl.  F'lrhii'H, 
ii'w«'  UiU'.h  thc>  i.,cIn  •'?,-■  •..:''1I  bo  rll^ovcr  with  iiR." 
■  ''All  right, ■■■  vv'jii-  ',  •.-r'.'-y't  '.y.'ouic  reply.  Ai^d  so  it 
prov*^d,  for  Uif'^;  *'aU'>.  v,*'/ r  ^^'Hting  fairly  into  the  r-u 
of  tho-  i*a|>id/  *■»*,-'•  S"  ■  j>  ri'-'.or  fcac  complettj  ooTnni.;t.d 
of  its  oxi-eft.  <••  '  .."  .*.  ■'-  i  ibnva"d  amid  the  fo;i:i»i;!j; 
■|(^tt«7i,  1  'TO  ^x  N«  .'v'  if^^;'..''';^  ssiih  lite.  II'novv  i(;  cru-ecr«d 
aiid  j>ik5i»i('Aft  <>*•  .  ti*..  w.^-ir^,  wlievo  th*^  roiigh  bed  oi"  \\u- 
tixrmi  f>:  ii.k  U.'i-.  moro  th;vn  iT.aially  turba'''ni.  Anoiv 
jt  il<-';;  -iyvlift  iu'";'--^i''-.l  r.-!.pidity  t.hro  igh  a  ni.now  g^} 
whero  ':)>  •  ''<v4?f.|^t » i-?-^  svatf.-r  w;is  ^iiicotli  raid  blade,  lu!- 
deep  ajd    t i-m-Hrf ' • '.,   rcndciing  great   care   iiocc-.v-ai-y  t- 


t;l 


luiinal,  v«;^f'- 

iiro  KskI  jiTst 
ig  caad  with 


1  r!\ornh\<;  on 
tilt;   K'iisU»- 

us ;  tbeoiUor 

ovii,  in  If  lh<» 
>m  the  sofciu* 

."./,  vini}  tljp-':' 
Jilt,  had  cu-4 

'  i»         * 

^y  TnakiirCf  >v 

At; J  iui  it 
it'i  tho  ruu 
•e  coinni.^tid 
lO  fo;lIl»ii!g 
cru-ecr«vi 
.:mI  of  \h<' 
'in.     Anoii 

laclc,  bu^ 


DEPARTURE  OF  CHARLEY  AND  JACQUES  FROM  THE  CAMP  OF 

THE  INDIANS.  „       „„„ 

Page  201?. 


1*1  •' 


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FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


209 


prevent  the  canoe's  frail  sides  from  being  dashed  on  the 
rocks.  Then  it  met  a  curling  wave,  into  which  it  plunged 
like  an  impetuous  charger,  and  was  checked  for  a  moment 
by  its  own  violence.  Presently  an  eddy  threw  the 
canoe  a  little  out  of  its  course,  disconcerting  Charley's 
intention  of  shaving  a  rock  which  lay  in  their  track,  so 
that  he  slightly  grazed  it  in  passing. 

"Ah,  Mr  Charles,"  said  Jacques,  shaking  his  head, 
"  that  was  not  well  done ;  an  inch  more  would  have 
sent  us  down  the  rapids  like  drowned  cats." 

"True,"  replied  Charley,  somewhat  crestfallen,  "but 
you  see  the  other  inch  was  not  lost,  so  we're  not  much 
the  worse  for  it." 

"  Well,  after  all,  it  was  a  ticklish  bit,  and  I  should 
have  guessed  that  your  experience  was  not  up  to  it 
quite.  I've  seen  many  a  man  in  my  day  who  wouldn't 
ha'  done  it  half  bo  slick,  an'  yet  ha'  thought  no  small  beer 
of  himself;  so  you  needn't  be  ashamed,  Mr  Charles.  But 
Wabisca  beats  you  for  all  that,"  continued  the  hunter, 
glancing  hastily  over  his  shoulder  at  Redfeather,  who 
followed  closely  in  their  wake,  he  and  his  modest-looking 
wife  guiding  their  little  craft  through  the  dangerous 
passage  with  the  utmost  sangfroid  and  precision. 

"  We've  about  run  them  all  now,"  said  Jacques,  as 
they  paddled  over  a  •  sheet  of  still  water  which  inter- 
vened between  the  rapid  they  had  just  descended  and 
another  which  thundered  about  a  hundred  yards  in 
advance. 

"  I  was  so  engrossed  with  the  one  we  have  just  come 
down,"  said  Charley,  "  that  I  quite  forgot  this  one." 

"  Quite  right,  Mr  Charles,"  said  Jacques,  in  an  ap- 
proving tone ;  "  quite  right.     I  holds  that  a  man  should 


\, 


210 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBRAMS 


always  attend  to  wliat  he'd  at,  an'  to  nothin'  else.  I've 
lived  long  in  the  woods  now,  and  that  fact  becomes  more 
and  more  sartin  every  day.  I've  know'd  chaps,  now,  as 
timorsome  as  settlement  girls,  that  wore  always  in  such 
a  mortal  funk  about  what  was  to  happen,  or  might 
happen,  that  they  were  never  fit  for  anything  that  did 
happen ;  always  lookin*  aliead,  and  never  around  them. 
Of  coorse,  I  don't  mean  that  a  man  shouldn't  look  ahead 
at  all,  but  their  great  mistake  w:is,  that  they  looked  out  too 
far  aliead,  and  always  kep'  their  eyes  nailed  there,  just  as 
if  tliey  had  the  fixin'  o'  everything,  an'  Providence  had 
nothin'  to  do  with  it  at  all.  I  mind  a  Canadian  o'  that 
sort,  that  travelled  in  company  with  mo  once.  We  were 
goin'  just  as  we  are  now,  Mr  Charles,  two  canoes  of  us ; 
him  and  a  comrade  in  one,  and  me  and  a  comrade  in 
t'other.  One  night  we  got  to  a  lot  < '  lapids,  that  came 
one  after  another  for  the  matter  o'  three  miles  or  there- 
abouts. They  were  all  easy  ones,  however,  except  the 
last,  but  it  was  a  tickler,  with  a  sharp  turn  o'  the  land 
that  hid  it  from  sight  till  ye  were  right  into  it,  with  a 
foamin'  current,  and  a  range  o'  ragged  rocks  that  stood 
straight  in  front  o'  ye,  like  the  teeth  of  a  cross-cut  saw. 
It  was  easy  enough,  however,  if  a  man  knew  it,  and  was 
a  cool  hand.  Well,  the  pauvre  Canadian  was  in  a  terrible 
takin'  about  this  shoot,  long  afore  he  came  to  it.  He 
had  run  it  often  enough  in  boats  where  he  was  one  of  a 
half-dozen  men,  and  had  nothin'  to  do  but  look  on ;  but 
he  had  never  steered  doAvn  it  before.  When  he  came  to 
the  top  o'  the  rapids,  his  mind  was  so  filled  with  this 
shoot,  that  he  couldn't  attend  to  nothin' ;  and  sci-aped 
agin'  a  dozen  rocks  in  almost  smooth  water,  so  that  when 
he  got  little  more  than  half  way  down,  the  canoe  was  as 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NOUTII. 


211 


rickotty  as  if  it  had  juat  como  off  a  six  mouths'  cniiso.  At 
hist  we  came  to  the  big  rapid,  and  after  we'd  run  down 
our  canoe,  I  climbed  the  bank  to  see  them  do  it.  Down 
they  came,  the  poor  Canadian  white  as  a  sheet,  and  his 
comrade,  who  was  bravo  enough,  but  kuew  nothin'  about 
light  craft,  not  very  comfortable.  At  first  he  could  see 
nothin'  for  the  point,  but,  in  another  moment,  round  they 
wont,  end  on,  for  the  big  rocks.  The  Canadian  gave  a 
groat  yell  when  ho  saw  thorn,  and  plunged  at  the  paddle 
till  I  thought  he'd  have  capsized  altogether.  They  ran  it 
well  enough,  straight  between  the  rocks  (more  by  good 
luck  than  good  guidance),  and  sloped  down  to  the  smooth 
water  below,  but  the  canoe  had  got  such  a  battering  in 
the  rapids  above,  where  an  Injin  baby  could  have  steered 
it  in  safety,  that  the  last  plunge  shook  it  all  to  pieces. 
It  opened  up,  and  lay  down  flat  on  the  water,  while 
the  two  men  fell  right  through  the  bottom,  screechin' 
like  mad,  and  rolling  about  among  shreds  o'  birch-bark  !  ** 

While  Jacques  was  thus  descanting  pliilosophically  on 
his  experiences  in  time  past,  they  had  approached  the 
head  of  the  second  rapid,  and,  in  accordance  witli  the 
principles  just  enunciated,  the  stout  backwoodsman 
gave  his  undivided  attention  to  the  work  before  him. 
The  rapid  was  short  and  deep,  so  that  little  care  was 
required  in  descending  it,  excepting  at  one  point,  where 
the  stream  rushed  impetuously  between  two  rocks  about 
six  yards  asunder.  Here  it  was  requisite  to  keep  the 
canoe  as  much  in  the  middle  of  the  stream  as  possible. 

Just  as  they  began  to  feel  the  drag  of  the  water,  Red- 
feather  was  heard  to  shout  in  a  loud  warning  tone, 
which  caused  Jacques  and  Charley  to  back  their  paddles 
hurriedly. 


212 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  What  can  the  Injin  mean,  I  wonder  1 "  said  Jacques, 
in  a  perjilexed  tone.  "  He  don't  look  like  a  man  that 
would  stop  us  at  the  top  of  a  strong  rapid  for  nothin." 

"  It's  too  late  to  do  that  now,  whatever  is  his  reason," 
said  Charley,  as  he  and  his  companion  struggled  in  vain 
to  paddle  up  stream. 

"  It's  o'  nr.  use,  Mr  Charles,  we  must  run  it  now ;  the 
current's  too  strong  to  make  head  against ;  besides,  I  do 
think  the  man  has  only  seen  a  bear,  or  somethin'  o'  that 
sort,  for  I  see  he's  ashore,  and  jumpin'  among  the  bushes 
like  a  cariboo." 

Saying  this,  they  turned  the  canoe's  head  down  stream 
again,  and  allowed  it  to  drift,  merely  retarding  its  pro- 
gress a  little  with  the  paddles. 

Suddenly  Jacques  uttered  a  sharp  exclamation.  "  Mon 
DieuP^  said  he,  "  it's  plain  enough  now.     Look  there  ! " 

Jacques  pointed  as  he  spoke  to  the  narrows  to  which 
they  were  now  approaching  with  tremendous  speed,  which 
increased  every  instant.  A  heavy  tree  lay  directly  across 
the  stream,  reaching  from  rock  to  rock,  and  placed  in 
such  a  way  that  it  was  impossible  for  a  canoe  to  descend 
without  being  dashed  in  pieces  against  it.  This  was  the 
more  curious,  inat  no  trees  grew  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  so  that  this  one  must  have  been  designedly 
conveyed  there. 

"  There  has  been  foul  work  here,"  said  Jacques  in  a 
deep  tone.  "We  must  dive,  Mr  Charles;  there's  no  chance 
any  way  else,  and  that's  but  a  poor  one." 

This  was  true.  The  rocks  on  each  side  rose  almost 
perpendicularly  out  of  the  water,  so  that  it  was  utterly 
impossible  to  run  ashore,  and  the  only  way  of  escape,  as 
Jacques  said,  was  by  diving  under  the  tree,  a  tiling  in- 


r  1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


213 


4 
I 


volving  great  risk,  as  the  stream  immediately  below  was 
broken  hy  rocks,  against  which  it  dashed  in  foam,  and 
through  which  the  chances  of  steering  one's  way  in  safety 
by  means  of  swimming,  were  very  slender  indeed. 

Charley  made  no  reply,  but,  with  tightly  compressed 
lips,  and  a  look  of  stem  resolution  on  his  brow,  threw  off 
his  coat,  and  hastily  tied  his  belt  tightly  round  his  waist. 
The  canoe  was  now  sweeping  forward  with  lightning  speed 
In  a  few  minutes  it  would  be  dashed  to  pieces. 

At  that  moment  a  shout  was  heard  in  the  woods,  and 
Redfeather  darting  out,  rushed  over  the  ledge  of  rock,  on 
which  one  end  of  the  tree  rested,  seized  the  trunk  in  his 
arms,  and  exerting  all  his  strength,  hurled  it  over  into 
the  river.  In  doing  so  he  stumbled,  and,  ere  he  could 
recover  himself,  a  branch  caught  him  under  the  arm  aa 
the  tree  fell  over,  and  dragged  him  into  the  boiling 
stream.  This  accident  was  probably  the  means  of  saving 
his  life,  for,  just  as  he  fell,  the  loud  report  of  a  gun  rang 
through  the  woods,  and  a  bullet  passed  through  his  cap. 
For  a  second  or  two  both  man  and  tree  were  lost  in  the 
foam,  while  the  canoe  dashed  past  in  safety.  The  next 
instant  Wabisca  passed  the  narrows  in  her  small  craft, 
and  steered  for  the  tree.  Redfeather,  who  had  risen  and 
sank  several  times,  saw  her  as  she  passed,  and,  making  a 
^dolent  effoi-t,  he  caught  hold  of  the  gunwale,  and  was 
carried  down  in  safety. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,"  said  Jacques,  as  the  party 
stood  on  a  rock  promontory  after  the  events  just  narrated, 
"I  would  give  a  dollar  to  have  that  fellow's  nose  and 
the  sights  o'  my  rifle  in  a  line  at  any  distance  short  of 
two  hundred  yards." 

"  It  was  Misconna,"  said  Redfeather.  "  I  did  not  see 


2U 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


him,  but  there's  not  another  man  in  the  tribe  that  could 
do  that." 

"  I'm  thankful  we  escaped,  Jacqu-es.  I  never  felt  so 
near  death  before,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  timely  aid 
of  our  friend  here,  it  strikes  me  that  our  wild  life  would 
have  come  to  an  abrupt  close.  God  bless  you,  Red- 
feather,"  said  Charley,  taking  the  Indian's  hand  in  both 
of  his  and  kissing  it. 

Charley's  ebullition  of  feeling  was  natural.  He  had 
not  yet  become  used  to  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness  so 
as  to  treat  them  with  indifference.  Jacques,  on  the  other 
hand,  had  risked  his  life  so  often,  that  escape  from  danger 
was  treated, very  much  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  called 
forth  little  expression  of  feeling.  Still,  it  must  not  be 
inferred  from  this  that  his  nature  had  become  callous. 
The  backwoodsman's  frame  was  hard  and  unyielding  as 
iron,  but  his  heart  was  as  soft  still  as  it  was  on  the  day 
on  which  he  first  donned  the  hunting-shirt  j  and  there 
was  much  more  of  tenderness  than  met  the  eye  in  the 
squeeze  that  he  gave  Redfeather's  hand  on  landing. 

As  the  four  travellers  encircled  the  fire  that  night, 
under  the  leafy  branches  of  the  forest,  and  smoked 
their  pipes  in  concert,  while  "Wabisca  busied  herself  in 
clearing  away  the  remnants  of  their  evening  meal,  they 
waxed  communicative,  and  stories,  pathetic,  comic,  and 
tragic,  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession. 

"  Now,  Redfeather,"  said  Charley,  while  Jacques  rose 
and  went  down  to  the  luggage  to  get  more  tobacco,  "  tell 
Jacques  about  the  way  in  which  you  got  your  name.  I 
am  sure  he  will  feel  deeply  interested  in  that  story, — at 
least  I  am  certain  that  Harry  Somerville  and  I  did  when 
you  told  it  to  us  the  day  we  were  wind-bound  on  Lake 
Winipoff." 


FKOIX  THB  FAB  NORTH. 


215 


Redfeather  made  no  reply  for  a  few  seconds.  "  Will 
Mr  Charles  speak  for  me  ?"  he  said,  at  length ;  "  his  tongue 
is  smooth  and  quick." 

"A  doubtful  kind  of  compliment,"  said  Charley, 
laughing ;  "  but  I  will,  if  you  don't  wish  to  tell  it  yoiu'- 
self" 

"  And  don't  mention  names.  Do  not  let  him  know 
that  you  speak  of  me  or  my  friends,"  said  the  Indian,  in 
a  low  whisper,  as  Jacques  returned  and  sat  down  by  the 
fire  again. 

Charley  gave  him  a  glance  of  surprise ;  but,  being  pre- 
vented rem  asking  questions;  he  nodded  in  reply,  and 
proceed  "^d  -  -elate  to  his  friend  the  story  that  has  been 
recountt  i  a  previous  chapter.  Redfeather  leaned  back 
against  a  tree,  and  appeared  to  listen  intently. 

Charley's  powers  of  description  were  by  no  means 
inconsiderable,  and  the  backwoodsman's  face  assumed  a 
look  of  good-humoured  attention  as  the  story  proceeded. 
But  when  the  narrator  went  on  to  tell  of  the  meditated 
attack,  and  the  midnight  march,  his  interest  was  aroused, 
the  pipe  which  he  had  been  sr  oking  was  allowed  to  go 
out,  and  he  gazed  at  his  young  friend  with  the  most 
earnest  attention.  It  was  evident  that  the  hunter's 
spirit  entered  with  deep  sympathy  into  such  scenes ;  and, 
when  Charley  described  the  attack,  and  the  death  of  the 
trapper's  wife,  Jacques  seemed  unable  to  restrain  his 
feelings.  He  leaned  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  buried  his 
face  in  his  hands,  and  groaned  aloud. 

"  Mr  Charles,"  he  said,  in  a  deep  voice,  when  the  story 
was  ended,  "there  are  two  men  I  would  like  to  meet 
with  in  this  world  before  I  die.  One  is  the  young 
lujin  who  tried  to  save  that  girl's  life,  the  other  is  the 


216 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


cowardly  villain  that  took  it.  I  don't  mean  the  one  who 
finished  the  bloody  work, — my  rifle  sent  his  accursed 
spirit  to  its  own  place " 

"  Your  rifle  ! "  cried  Charley,  in  amazement. 

"  Ay,  mine !  It  was  my  wife  who  was  butchered  by 
these  savage  dogs  on  that  dark  night.  Oh  !  what  avails 
the  strength  o'  that  right  arm !"  said  Jacques,  bitterly, 
as  he  lifted  up  his  clenched  fist ;  "  it  was  powerless  to 
save  her — the  sweet  girl  who  left  her  home  and  people  to 
follow  mo,  a  rough  hunter,  through  the  lonesome  wilder- 
ness ! "  i 

He  covered  his  face  again,  and  groaned  in  agony 
of  spirit,  "vhile  his  whole  frame  quivered  with  emotion. 

Jacques  remained  silent ;  and  his  sympathising  friends 
refi-ained  from  intruding  on  a  sorrow  which  they  felt 
they  had  no  power  to  relieve. 

At  length  he  spoke.  "  Yes,"  said  he ;  "I  would  give 
much  to  meet  with  the  man  who  tried  to  save  her.  I 
saw  him  do  it  twice ;  but  the  devils  about  h\m.  were  too 
eager  to  be  baulked  of  their  prey." 

Charley  and  the  Indian  exchanged  glances.  "That 
Indian's  name,"  said  the  former,  "  -was  Hedfeather  f" 

"  What !"  exclaimed  the  trapper,  jumping  to  his  feet, 
and,  grasping  Redfeather,  who  had  also  risen,  by  the  two 
shoulders,  stared  wildly  into  his  face,  "  was  it  you  that 
did  it  r 

Redfeather  smiled,  and  held  out  his  hand,  which  the 
other  took  and  wrung  with  an  energy  that  would  have 
extorted  a  cry  of  pain  from  any  one  but  an  Indian. 
Then,  dropping  it  suddenly,  and  clenching  hLs  hands,  he 
exclaimed — 

"  I  said  that  I  would  like  to  meet  the  villain  who 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


217 


killed  her — yes,  I  said  it  in  passion,  when  your  worda 
La4  roused  all  my  old  feelings  again  ;  but  I  am  thankful 
— I  bless  God,  that  I  did  not  know  this  sooner — that 
you  did  not  tell  me  of  it  when  I  was  at  the  camp,  for  I 
serily  believe  that  I  would  not  only  have  fixed  him,  but 
half  the  warriors  o'  your  tribe  too,  before  they  had  settled 
me! 

It  need  scarcely  be  added,  that  the  friendship  which 
already  subsisted  between  Jacques  and  Redfeather  was 
now  doubly  cemented ;  nor  will  it  create  surprise  when 
we  say  that  the  former,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  and 
from  sheer  inability  to  find  adequate  outlets  for  the  ex- 
pression of  his  feelings,  ofiered  Redfeather  in  succession 
all  the  articles  of  value  he  possessed,  even  to  his  much- 
loved  rifle,  and  was  seriously  annoyed  at  their  not  being 
accepted.  At  last  he  finished  ofi*  by  assuring  the  Indian 
that  he  might  look  out  for  him  soon  at  the  missionarv 
settlement,  where  he  meant  to  stay  with  him  evermore 
in  the  capacity  of  hunter,  fisherman,  and  jack-of-all- trades 
to  the  whole  clan. 


lii 


/  ' 


!  11 


if! 


i 


111 


2J3 


SKOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBELVJIS 


CHAPTEE  XVIL 

The  scene  changes ;   Bachelor's  Hall ;  a  practical  Joke  and  its  consequences ;  a 
snow-shoe  walk  at  night  in  the  forest. 

Leaving  Charley  to  pursue  liis  adventurous  career  among 
the  Indians,  we  will  introduce  our  reader  to  a  new  scene, 
and  follow,  for  a  time,  the  fortunes  of  our  friend  Harry 
Somerville.  It  will  be  remembered  that  we  left  him 
labouring  under  severe  disappointment,  at  the  idea  of 
having  to  spend  a  year,  it  might  be  many  years,  at  the 
depot ;  and  being  condemned  to  the  desk,  instead  of  realis- 
ing his  fond  dreams  of  bear-hunting  and  deer-stalking  in 
the  woods  and  prairies. 

It  was  now  the  autumn  of  Hany's  second  year  at  York 
Foi-t.  This  period  of  the  y^ar  happens  to  be  the  busiest 
at  the  depot,  in  consequence  of  the  preparation  of  the 
annual  accounts  for  transmission  to  England,  in  the  soli- 
tary ship  which  visits  this  lonely  spot  once  a  year ;  so 
that  Hany  was  tied  to  his  desk  all  day  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  night  too,  till  his  spirits  fell  infinitely  below 
zero,  and  he  began  to  look  on  liimself  as  the  most  miserable 
of  mortals.  His  spirits  rose,  however,  with  amazing 
rapidity,  after  the  ship  went  away,  and  the  "young  ^n\- 
tlemen,"  as  the  clerks  were  styled  eti  masse,  were  i)ermit- 
ted  to  run  wild  in  the  swamps  and  woods  for  the  three 
weeks  succeeding  that  event.      During  this  glimpse  of 


FROM  THE  FAU  NOIITII. 


219 


sTUisliiue  they  reciniited  their  exhausted  frames,  by  pad- 
dling about  all  day  in  Indian  canoes,  or  wandering 
through  the  mai'shes,  sleeping  at  nights  in  tents  or  under 
the  pine-trees,  and  spreading  dismay  anvug  the  feathered 
tribes,  of  which  there  were  immense  ii  aiibersof  all  kinds. 
After  this  they  returned  to  their  regular  work  at  the 
desk,  but,  as  this  was  not  so  severe  as  in  summer,  and  wiia 
farther  lightened  by  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays  being 
devoted  entirely  to  recreation,  Harry  began  to  look  on 
things  in  a  less  gloomy  aspect,  and  at  length  regained  his 
wonted  cheerful  spirits. 

Autumn  i^assed  away.  The  ducks  and  geese  took  their 
departure  to  more  genial  climes.  The  swamps  froze  up 
and  became  solid.  Snow  fell  in  great  abundance,  covering 
every  vestige  of  vegetable  nature,  except  the  dai-k  fir- 
trees  that  only  helped  to  render  the  scenery  more  dreary, 
and  winter  settled  down  upon  the  land.  Within  the 
pickets  of  York  Fort,  the  thii-ty  or  forty  souls  who  lived 
there  were  actively  employed  in  cutting  their  firewood ; 
putting  in  double  window-frames,  to  keep  out  the  severe 
cold;  cutting  tracks  in  the  snow  from  one  house  to 
another ;  and  otherwise  preparing  for  a  winter  of  eight 
months'  duration,  as  cold  as  that  of  Nova  Zembla,  and 
in  the  course  of  which  the  only  new  faces  they  had  any 
chance  of  seeing  were  those  of  the  two  men  who  conveyed 
the  annual  winter  packet  of  lettera  from  the  next  station. 
Outside  of  the  fort  all  was  a  wide,  waste  wilderness  for 
thousands  of  miles  around.  Death-like  stillness  and  soli' 
tude  reigned  everywhere,  except  when  a  covey  of  ptarmigan 
whirred  like  large  snowflakes  athwart  the  sky,  or  an  arctic 
Ibx  prowled  stealthily  through  the  woods  in  search  of  prey. 

As  if  in  opposition  to  the  gloom,  and  stillness,  and  soli- 


4 

4 


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til  • 


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I 

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IM 


220 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


tude  outside,  the  interior  of  the  clerks'  house  presented  a 
striking  contrast  of  ruddy  warmth,  cheerful  sounds,  and 
bustling  activity. 

It  was  evening,  but,  although  the  sun  had  set,  there 
was  still  sufficient  daylight  to  render  candles  unnecessary, 
though  not  enough  to  prevent  a  bright  glare  from  the 
stove  in  the  centre  of  the  hall  taking  full  effoct  in  the 
darkening  chamber,  and  making  it  glow  with  fiery 
red,  Harry  Somerville  sat  in  front,  and  full  in  the  blaze 
of  this  stove,  resting  after  the  laboui's  of  the  day ;  his 
arms  crossed  on  his  breast ;  his  head  a  little  to  one  side, 
as  if  in  deep  contemplation,  as  he  gazed  earnestly  into 
the  fire,  and  his  chair  tilted  on  its  hind  legs  so  as  to 
balance  with  such  nicety  that  a  feather's  weight  additional, 
outside  its  centre  of  gravity,  would  have  upset  it.  He 
had  divested  himself  of  his  coat — a  practice  that  prevailed 
among  the  young  gentlemen  when  at  home,  as  being  free- 
and-easy  as  well  as  convenient.  The  doctor,  a  tall, 
broad-shouldered  man,  with  red  hair  and  whiskers,  paced 
the  room  sedately,  with  a  long  pipe  depending  from  his 
lips,  wliich  he  removed  occasionally  to  address  a  few 
remarks  to  the  accountant,  a  stout  heavy  man  of  about 
thii-ty,  with  a  voice  like  a  Stentor,  eyes  sharp  and  active 
as  those  of  a  ferret,  and  a  tongue  that  moved  with  twice 
the  ordinary  amount  of  lingual  rapidity.  The  doctor's 
remai'ks  seemed  to  be  particularly  humorous,  if  one 
might  judge  from  the  peals  of  laughter  with  which  they 
were  received  by  the  accountant,  who  stood  with  his 
back  to  the  stove  in  such  a  position  that,  while  it  warmed 
him  from  his  heels  to  his  waist,  he  enjoyed  the  additional 
benefit  of  the  pipe  or  chimney,  which  rose  upwards, 
parallel  with  his  spine,  and,  taking  a  sudden  bend  near 


!     ' 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


221 


the  roof,  passed  over  his  head — thus  producing  a  genial 
and  equable  warmth  from  top  to  toe. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  left  him  hotly  following  up 
a  rabbit-track,  in  the  firm  belief  that  it  was  that  of  a  silver 
fox." 

"And  did  you  not  undeceive  the  greenhorn?"  cried 
the  accountant,  with  another  shout  of  laughter. 

"  Not  I,"  replied  the  doctor,  "  I  merely  recommended 
him  to  keep  his  eye  on  the  sun,  lest  he  should  lose  his 
way,  and  hastened  home;  for  it  just  occurred  to  me  that  I 
had  forgotten  to  visit  Louis  Blanc,  who  cut  his  foot  with 
an  axe  yesterday,  and  whose  wound  required  redressing, 
so  I  left  the  poor  youth  to  learn  from  experience." 

"  Pray,  who  did  you  leave  to  that  delightful  fate  ? " 
asked  Mr  Wilson,  issuing  from  his  bedroom  and  ap- 
proaching the  stove. 

Mr  Wilson  was  a  middle-aged,  good-humoured,  active 
man,  who  filled  the  onerous  offices  of  superintendent  of 
the  men,  trader  of  furs,  seller  of  goods  to  the  Indians,  and 
general  factotum. 

"  Our  friend  Hamilton,"  answered  the  doctor,  in  reply 
to  his  question.  "  I  think  he  is,  without  exception,  the 
most  egregious  nincompoop  I  ever  saw.  Just  as  I  passed 
the  long  swamp  on  my  way  home,  I  met  him  crashing 
through  the  bushes  in  hot  pursuit  of  a  rabbit,  the  track 
of  which  he  mistook  for  a  fox.  Poor  fellow,  he  had  been 
out  since  breakfast,  and  only  shot  a  brace  of  ptarmigan, 
although  they  are  as  thick  as  bees  and  quite  tame.  'But 
then,  do  you  see,'  said  he,  in  excuse,  '  I'm  so  very  short- 
sighted !  Would  you  believe  it,  I've  blown  fifteen  lumps 
of  suuAv  to  atoms,  in  the  belief  that  they  were  ptarmi- 
gan ! '  and  then  he  rushed  off  again." 


222 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNDKA-MS 


"  No  doubt,"  said  Mr  Wilson,  smiling,  "  the  lad  is  very 
green — but  he's  a  good  fellow  for  all  that." 

"  I'll  answer  for  that,"  said  the  accountant ;  "  I  found 
him  over  at  the  men's  houses  this  morning  doing  ^our 
work  for  you,  doctor." 

"  How  so  1 "  inquired  the  disciple  of  -^^^sculapius. 

"  Attending  to  your  wounded  man,  Louis  Blanc,  to  he 
Burc;  and  he  seemed  to  speak  to  him  as  wisely  as  if  he  had 
walked  the  hospitals,  and  reg\darly  passed  for  an  M.D." 

"  Indeed ! "  said  the  doctor  with  a  mischievous  gi'in. 
"Then  I  must  pay  him  off  for  interfering  with  my 
patients." 

"  Ah,  doctor,  you're  too  iond  of  pmctical  jokes.  You 
never  let  slip  an  opportunity  of  '  paying  off'  your  friend!^ 
for  something  or  other.  It's  a  bad  habit.  Practical 
jokes  are  very  bad  things — shockingly  bad,"  said  Mr 
Wilson,  as  he  put  on  his  fur  cap,  and  wound  a  thick 
shawl  round  his  throat,  preparatory  to  leaving  the  room. 

As  Mr  Wilson  gave  utterance  to  this  opinion,  he 
passed  Hany  Somerville,  who  was  still  staring  at  the 
tire  in  deep  mental  abstraction,  and,  as  he  did  so,  gave 
his  tilted  chair  a  very  slight  push  backwards  with  his 
finger, — an  action  which  caused  Harry  to  toss  np  his  legs, 
grasp  convulsively  with  both  hands  at  empty  air,  and  fall 
with  a  loud  noise  and  an  angry  yell  to  the  gi*ound,  while 
his  persecutor  >'anislied  from  the  scene. 

"  O  you  oiitrageous  villain  ! "  cried  Harry,  shaking 
his  fist  at  the  door,  as  he  slowly  gathered  himself  up  ;  "  I 
might  have  expected  that." 

"  Quite  so,"  said  the  doctor,  "  you  might.  It  was 
very  neatly  done,  undoubtedly.  Wilson  desei'vcs  credit 
for  the  way  in  which  it  was  executed." 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NOUTH. 


2'2^^ 


*•  ilo  deserves  to  he  cxeciitecl  for  doing  it  at  all," 
replied  Harry,  rubbing  his  elbow  as  he  resumed  his 
seat. 

'*  Any  bark  knocked  offT'  inquired  the  accountant,  as 
he  took  a  piece  of  glowing  charcoal  from  the  stove,  where- 
with to  light  his  pipe.  "  Try  a  whiff,  Harry.  It's  good 
for  such  things ;  bruises,  sores,  contusions,  sprains,  rheu- 
matic affections  of  the  back  and  loins,  carbuncles  and 
earache — there's  nothing  that  smoking  won't  cure — eh, 
doctor?" 

"  Certainly.  If  applied  inwardly,  there's  nothing  so 
j^ood  for  digestion  when  one  doesn't  require  tonics.  Try 
it,  Hariy,  it  will  do  you  good,  I  assure  you." 

"  No,  thank  you,"  replied  Harry,  "  I'll  leave  that  to 
you  and  the  chimney.  I  don't  wish  to  make  a  soot-bag 
of  my  mouth.  But  tell  me,  doctor,  what  do  you  mean 
to  do  with  that  lump  of  snow  there  1 " 

Harry  pointed  to  a  mass  of  snow,  of  about  two  feet 
s(|uare,  which  lay  on  the  floor  beside  the  door.  It  had 
been  placed  there  by  the  doctor  sometime  previously. 

"  Do  with  it  1  Have  patience,  my  friend,  and  you  shall 
see.     It  is  a  little  surprise  I  have  in  store  for  Hamilton." 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  opened,  and  a  short,  square- 
l)uilt  man  rushed  into  the  room,  with  a  pistol  in  one 
liand,  and  a  bright  little  bullet  in  the  other. 

"  Hallo,  skipper  !"  cried  Harry,  "what's  the  row  ?" 

"All  right,"  cried  the  skipper,  "here  it  is  at  last, 
solid  as  the  fluke  of  an  anchor.  Toss  me  the  powder- 
flask,  Hany ;  look  sharp,  else  it'll  melt." 

A  powder-flask  was  immediately  produced,  from  which 
the  skipper  hastily  charged  the  pistol,  and  mmmed  down 
the  shining  bullet. 


224 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  8UNDEAM9 


"  Now  then,"  said  he,  "  look  out  for  squalls.  Clear  the 
decks  there." 

And,  rushing  to  the  door,  ho  flung  it  open,  took  a 
8teady  aim  at  something  outside,  and  fired. 

"  Is  the  man  mad  ? "  said  the  accountant,  as,  with  a 
look  of  amazement,  ho  beheld  the  skipper  spring  through 
the  doonvay,  and  immediately  return  boaniig  in  his  anns 
a  large  piece  of  fir  plank. 

"  Not  quite  mad  yet,"  he  said,  in  reply,  "  but  I've  sent 
a  ball  of  quicksilver  through  an  inch  plank,  and  that's 
not  a  thing  to  be  done  every  day — even  here,  although  it 
IS  cold  enough  sometimes  to  freeze  up  one's  very  ideas." 

"  Dear  me,"  interrupted  Harry  Somerville,  looking 
as  if  a  new  thought  had  struck  him,  "  that  must  be  it ! 
I've  no  doubt  that  poor  Hamilton's  ideas  are  frozen, 
wliich  accounts  for  the  total  absence  of  any  indication  of 
his  possessing  such  things." 

"  I  observed,"  continued  the  skipper,  not  noticing  the 
intenoiption,  "  that  the  glass  was  down  at  45  degrees 
below  zero  this  morning,  and  i)ut  out  a  bullet-mould  full 
of  mercuiy,  and  you  see  the  result ; "  as  he  spoke,  he  held 
up  the  perforated  plank  in  triumph. 

The  skipper  was  a  sti*ange  mixture  of  qualities.  To  a 
wild,  ofi'-hand,  sailor-like  hilarity  of  disposition,  in  houw 
of  leisure,  he  imited  a  grave,  stem  energy  of  character 
while  employed  in  the  performance  of  his  duties.  Duty 
was  always  paramount  with  him.  A  smile  could  scarcely 
be  extracted  from  him,  while  it  was  in  the  course  of  per- 
formance. But,  the  instant  his  work  was  done,  a  new 
spirit  seemed  to  take  possession  of  the  man.  Fun,  mis- 
chief of  any  kind,  no  matter  how  childish,  he  entered  into 
with  the  greatest  delight  and  enthusiasm.     Among  other 


FROM  THE  FiVR  NORTH. 


225 


peculiarities,  lie  had  become  deeply  imbued  with  a  thirst 
lor  scientific  knowledge,  ever  since  ho  had  acquired,  with 
infinite  labour,  the  small  modicum  of  science  necessary  to 
\  navigation  ;  and  his  doings  in  pursuit  of  statistical  infor- 
mation relative  to  the  weather,  and  the  phenomena  of 
nature  generally,  were  very  peculiar,  and  in  some  cai<.< 
outrageoua  His  transaction  with  the  quicksilver  -v,  /^  in 
consequence  of  an  eager  desire  to  see  that  metal  fror.ori, 
(an  eflect  which  takes  jJace  when  the  spirit-of-winc  tlu  i  ■ 
niometer  falls  to  39  degrees  below  zero  of  Falirenhelb,)  ainl 
a  wish  to  be  able  to  boast  of  having  actually  firoil  :•.  mei' 
curial  biUlet  through  an  inch  plank.  Having  nii'xle  a 
careful  note  of  the  fact,  with  all  the  relative  circ'i.ni- 
stances  attending  it,  in  a  very  much  blotted  book,  v.^hich 
he  denominated  his  scientific  log,  the  wc^-thy  skipper 
threw  ofi"  his  coat,  drew  a  chair  to  the  stove,  ar<l  pre- 
pared to  regale  himself  with  a  pipe.  As  he  glaijccd 
slowly  round  the  room,  while  thus  engaged,  his  eye  feJi 
on  the  mass  of  snow  before  alhided  to.  On  being  in- 
formed bv  the  doctor  for  v/hat  it  was  intended,  he  laid 
down  his  pipe  and  rose  hastily  from  his  chair. 

"  You've  not  a  moment  to  lose,"  said  he.  "  As  X  crrae 
in  at  the  gate  just  now,  I  saw  Hamilton  coming  dowi: 
the  river  on  the  ice,  and  he  must  be  almost  a^  riv  3O.  now." 

"  Up  with  it  then,"  cried  the  doctor,  seizing  the  snow, 
and  lifting  it  to  the  top  of  the  f}u>v ,  "hand  me  those 
bits  of  stick,  Hariy ;  quick,  min.  stir  your  stumps.  Now 
then,  skipper,  fij;  them  in  so,  wliile  I  hold  this  up." 

The  skipper  lent  willing  and  cfiective  aid,  so  that  in  a 
few  minutes  the  snow  was  placed  in  such  a  position, 
that,  upon  the  opening  of  the  door,  it  must  inevitably  fall 
on  the  head  of  the  first  person  who  should  enter  the  room. 


% 


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*»% 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"So,"  said  the  skipper,  "that's  rigged  up  in  what  I 
call  a  ship-shape  fashion." 

"  Tnie,"  remarked  the  doctor,  eying  the  arrangement 
with  a  look  of  approval;  "  it  will  do,  I  think,  admii'ably." 

"  Don't  you  think,  skipper,"  said  Harry  Somerville, 
gravely,  as  he  resumed  his  seat  in  front  of  the  fire, 
"  that  it  would  be  worth  while  to  make  a  careful  and 
minute  entry  in  your  private  log  of  the  m«>nner  in  which 
it  was  put  up,  to  be  after\vards  followed  by  an  account 
of  its  effect  ?  You  might  write  an  essay  on  it,  now ; 
and  call  it  the  extraordinary  effects  of  a  fall  of  snow  in 
latitude  so  and  so;  eh.1     "What  think  you  of  it?" 

The  skipper  vouchsafed  no  reply,  but  made  a  significant 
gesture  with  his  fist,  which  caused  Harry  to  put  himself 
in  a  posture  of  defence. 

At  this  moment,  footsteps  were  heard  on  the  wooden 
platform  in  front  of  the  building. 

Instantly  all  became  silence  and  expectation  in  the 
hall,  as  the  result  of  the  practical  joke  was  about  to  be 
realised.  Just  then  another  step  was  heard  on  the  plat- 
form, and  it  became  evident  that  two  persons  were  ap- 
proaching the  door. 

"  Hope  it'll  be  the  right  man,"  said  the  skipper,  with  a 
look  savouring  slightly  of  anxiety. 

As  he  spoke,  the  door  opened,  and  a  foot  crossed  the 
threshold ;  the  next  Instant,  the  miniature  avalanche 
descended  on  the  head  and  shoulders  of  a  man,  who  reeled 
forward  from  the  weight  of  the  blow,  and,  covered  from 
head  to  foot  with  snow,  fell  to  the  ground  amid  shouts  of 
laughter. 

With  a  convulsive  stamp  and  shake,  the  prostrate 
figure  sprang  up  and  confronted  the  party.     Had  the 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


227 


c-iist-irou  stove  suddenly  bui*st  into  atoms,  and  blown  the 
loof  off  the  house,  it  could  scarcely  have  created  greater 
consternation  than  that  which  filled  the  merry  jesters 
when  they  beheld  the  visage  of  Mr  Rogan,  the  supei'in- 
tondent  of  the  fort,  red  with  passion,  and  fringed  with 
snow. 

"  So,"  said  he,  stamping  violently  with  his  foot,  partly 
from  anger,  and  partly  with  the  view  of  shaking  off  the 
unexpected  covering,  which  stuck  all  over  his  dress  in 
little  patches,  producing  a  somewhat  piebald  effect,  "so 
you  are  pleased  to  jest,  gentlemen.  Pray,  who  placed 
that  piece  of  snow  over  the  door?"  Mr  Rogan  glared 
fiercely  round  upon  the  culprits,  who  stood  speechless 
before  him. 

For  a  moment  he  stood  silent,  as  if  uncertain  how  to 
act ;  then,  turning  short  on  his  heel,  he  strode  quickly 
out  of  the  room,  nearly  overturning  Mr  Hamilton,  who 
at  the  same  instant  entered  it,  carrying  his  gun  and 
snow-shoes  under  his  arm. 

"  Dear  me,  what  has  happened  ?"  he  exclaimed,  in  a 
peculiarly  gentle  tone  of  voice,  at  the  same  time  regard- 
ing the  snow  and  the  horror-stricken  circle  with  a  look 
of  intense  surprise. 

"  You  see  what  has  happened,"  replied  Harry  Somer- 
ville,  who  was  the  first  to  recover  his  composure ;  "  I 
presume  you  intended  to  ask,  *  What  has  caused  it  to 
happen  V  Perhaps  the  skipper  will  explain.  It's  beyond 
me,  quite." 

Thus  appealed  to,  that  worthy  cleared  his  throat,  and 
said — 

"  Why,  you  see,  Mr  Hamilton,  a  great  phenomenon 
of  meteorology  has  happened.     We  were  all  standing,  you 


228 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


IM 


must  know,  at  the  open  door,  taking  a  squint  at  the 
weather,  when  our  attention  was  attracted  by  a  curious 
object  that  appeared  in  the  sky,  and  seemed  to  be  coming 
down  at  the  rate  of  ten  knots  an  hour,  right  end-on  for 
the  house.  I  had  just  time  to  cry,  '  Clear  out,  lads,'  when 
it  came  slap  in  through  the  doorway,  and  smashed  to 
shivers  there,  where  you  see  the  fragments.  In  fact,  it's 
a  wonderful  aerolite,  and  Mr  Rogan  has  just  gone  out 
v/ith  a  lot  of  the  bits  in  his  pocket,  to  make  a  careful 
examination  of  them,  and  draw  up  a  report  for  the  Geo- 
logical Society  in  London.  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  he 
were  to  send  off  an  express  to-night ;  and  maybe  you 
will  have  to  convey  the  news  to  head-quartera ;  so  you'd 
bettet  go  and  see  him  about  it  soon." 

Soft  although  Mr  Hamilton  was  supposed  to  be,  he 
was  not  quite  prepared  to  give  credit  to  this  explanation ; 
but,  being  of  a  peaceful  disposition,  and  altogether  unac- 
customed to  retort,  he  merely  smiled  his  disbelief,  as  he 
proceeded  to  lay  aside  his  fowling-piece,  and  divest  him- 
self of  the  voluminous  out-of-door  trappings  with  which 
he  was  clad.  Mr  Hamilton  was  a  tall,  slender  youth,  of 
about  nineteen.  He  had  come  out  by  the  ship  in  autumn, 
and  was  spending  his  first  winter  at  York  Fort.  Up  to 
the  period  of  his  entering  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's 
service,  he  had  never  been  more  than  twenty  miles  from 
home ;  and,  ha\'ing  mingled  little  with  the  world,  was 
somewhat  unsophisticated,  besides  being  by  nature  gentle 
and  unassuming. 

Soon  after  this,  the  man  who  acted  as  cook,  waiter, 
and  butler  to  the  mess,  entered,  and  said  that  Mr  Rogan 
desired  to  see  the  accountant  immediately. 


\\\ 


FROM  THE  FAR  NOKIH. 


229 


"  Wlio  am  I  to  say  did  it?"  inquired  that  gentleman, 
as  he  rose  to  obey  the  summons. 

"  Wouldn't  it  be  a  disinterested  piece  of  kindness  if 
you  were  to  say  it  was  yourself?"  suggested  the  doctor. 

"  Perhaps  it  would,  but  T  won't,"  replied  the  account- 
ant, as  he  made  liis  exit. 

In  about  half-an-hour,  Mr  E-ogan  and  the  accountant 
re-entered  the  apartment.  The  former  had  quite  regained 
his  composure.  He  was  naturally  amiable ;  which  happy 
disposition  was  indicated  by  a  habitually  cheerful  look 
and  smile. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  I  find  that  this  practical 
joke  was  not  intended  for  me,  and  therefore  look  upon 
it  as  an  unlucky  accident;  but  I  cannot  too  strongly 
express  my  dislike  to  practical  jokes  of  all  kinds.  I  have 
seen  great  evil,  and  some  bloodshed,  result  from  practical 
jokes ;  and  I  think  that,  being  a  sufierer  in  consequence 
of  your  fondness  for  them,  I  have  a  right  to  beg  that  you 
will  abstain  from  such  doings  in  future,— at  least  from 
such  jokes  as  involve  risk  to  those  who  do  not  choose  to 
enter  into  them." 

Having  given  vent  to  this  speech,  Mr  Rogan  left  his 
volatile  friends  to  digest  it  at  their  leisure. 

"  Serves  us  right,"  said  the  skipper,  pacing  up  and 
down  the  room  in  a  repentant  frame  of  mind,  with  his 
thumbs  hooked  into  the  arm-holes  of  his  vest. 

The  doctor  said  nothing,  but  breathed  hard,  and 
smoked  vigorously. 

While  we  admit  most  thoroughly  with  Mr  Kogan  that 
practical  jokes  are  exceedingly  bad,  and  productive,  fre- 
quently, of  far  more  evil  than  fun,  we  feel  it  our  duty, 


I  ''I 


230 


SNOWFLAKES  AifD  SUNBEAMS 


:       1 


It     II 


as  a  faithful  delineator  of  manners,  customs,  and  charac- 
ter in  these  regions,  to  urge  in  palliation  of  the  offence 
committed  by  the  young  gentlemen  at  York  Fort,  that 
they  had  really  about  as  few  amusements,  and  sources 
of  excitement,  as  fall  to  the  lot  of  any  class  of  men. 
They  were  entirely  dependent  on  their  -wn  unaided 
exertions,  during  eight  or  nine  months  of  the  year,  for 
amusement  or  recreation  of  any  kind.  Their  books 
were  few  in  number,  and  soon  read  through.  The  de- 
solate wilderness  around  afforded  no  incidents  to  form 
subjects  of  convei'sation,  further  than  the  events  of  a 
day's  shooting,  which,  being  nearly  similar  every  day, 
soon  lost  all  interest.  No  newspapers  came  to  tell  of  the 
doings  of  the  busy  world  from  which  they  were  shut  out, 
and  nothing  occurred  to  vary  the  dull  routine  of  their 
life  j  so  that  it  is  not  matter  for  wonder  that  they  were 
driven  to  seek  for  relaxation  and  excitement,  occa- 
sionally, in  most  outrageous  and  unnatural  ways,  and  to 
indulge,  now  and  then,  in  the  perpetration  of  a  practical 
joke. 

For  some  time  after  the  rebuke  administered  by  Mr 
Rogan,  silence  reigned  in  Bachelors  Hall,  as  the  clerks' 
house  was  termed.  But  at  length  symptoms  of  ennvi 
began  to  be  displayed.  The  doctor  yawned,  and  lay  down 
on  his  bed  to  enjoy  an  American  newspaper  about  twelve 
months  old.  Harry  Somerville  sat  down  to  re-read  a 
volume  of  Franklin's  travels  in  the  Polar  Regions,  which 
he  had  perused  twice  already.  Mr  Hamilton  busied 
himself  in  cleaning  his  fowling-piece ;  while  the  skipp(ir 
conversed  with  Mr  Wilson,  who'  was  engaged  in  his  room 
in  adjusting  an  ivory  head  to  a  walking-stick.  Mr  Wilson 
was  a  jack-of-all-trades,  who  could  make  shift,  one  way 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


231 


or    other,    to   do    anything.     The   accountant   paced  the 
uiicarpeted  floor  in  deep  contemplation. 

At  length  he  paused,  and  looked  at  Han-y  Somerville 
tor  some  time. 

"  "What  say  you  to  a  walk  through  the  woods  to  North 
River,  HaiTy?" 

"  Ready,"  cried  Hany,  tossing  down  the  book  with  a 
look  of  contemi)t, — "  ready  for  anything," 

"  Will  you  come,  Hamilton  ?"  added  the  accountant. 
Hamilton  looked  up  in  surprise. 

"  You  don't  mean,  surely,  to  take  so  long  a  walk  in  the 
dark,  do  you?  It  is  snowing,  too,  very  heavily,  and  I  think 
you  said  that  North  River  was  five  miles  off,  did  you  not  ?" 

"  Of  coui-se  I  mean  to  walk  in  the  dark,"  replied  the 
accountant,  "  unless  you  can  extemporise  an  artificial 
light  for  the  occasion,  or  prevail  on  the  moon  to  come  out 
for  my  special  benefit.  As  to  snowing,  and  a  short  tramp 
of  five  miles,  why,  the  sooner  you  get  to  think  of  such 
things  as  trijles  the  better,  if  you  hope  to  be  fit  for  any- 
thing in  this  country." 

"  I  do7it  think  much  of  them,"  replied  Hamilton, 
softly,  and  with  a  slight  smile  ;  "  I  only  meant  that  such 
a  walk  was  not  very  attractive  so  late  in  the  evening." 

"  Attractive ! "  shouted  Ha.jy  Somerville,  from  his 
bedroom,  where  he  was  equipping  himself  for  the  walk, 
*'  what  can  be  more  attractive  than  a  sharp  mn  of  ten 
miles  through  the  woods  on  a  cool  night,  to  visit  your 
traps,  with  the  prospect  of  a  silver  fox,  or  a  wolf,  at  the 
end  of  it,  and  an  extra  sound  sleep  as  the  result  1  Come, 
man,  don't  be  soft ;  get  ready,  and  go  along  with  us." 

"  Besides,"  added  the  accountant,  "  I  don't  mean  to 
come  back  to-night.     To-morrow,  you  know,  is  a  holi- 


232 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


day,  so  we  can  camp  out  in  the  snow,  after  visiting  tlie 
traps, — have  our  supper,  and  start  early  in  the  morning 
to  search  for  ptarmigan." 

"  Well,  I  will  go,"  said  Hamilton,  after  this  account 
of  the  pleasures  that  were  to  be  expected  ;  "  I  am  exceed- 
ingly anxious  to  learn  to  shoot  birds  on  the  wing." 

"  Bless  me  !  have  you  not  learned  that  yet  1"  asked  the 
doctor,  in  affected  surprise,  as  he  sauntered  out  of  his 
bedroom  to  relight  his  pipe. 

The  various  bedrooms  in  the  clerks'  house  were  ranged 
round  the  hall,  having  doors  that  opened  directly  into  it, 
so  that  conversation  carried  on  in  a  loud  voice  was  heard 
in  all  the  rooms  at  once,  and  was  not  unfrequently  sus- 
tained in  elevated  tones  from  different  apartments,  when 
the  o^^cupants  were  lounging,  as  they  often  did  of  an 
evening:  in  their  beds. 

"  No,"  said  Hamilton,  in  reply  to  the  doctor's  question, 
"  I  have  not  learned  yet,  although  there  were  a  great 
many  grouse  in  the  part  of  Scotland  where  I  was  brought 
up.  But  my  aunt,  with  whom  I  lived,  was  so  fearful 
of  my  shooting  either  myself  oi  some  one  else,  and  had 
such  an  aversion  to  firearms,  that  I  determined  to  make 
her  mind  easy,  bj  promising  that  I  would  never  use 
them,  so  long  as  I  remained  under  her  roof." 

"  Quite  right ;  very  dutiful  and  proper,"  said  the  doctor, 
with  a  grave  patronising  air. 

"  Perhaps  you'll  fall  in  with  more  fox  tracks  of  the  same 
sort  as  the  one  you  gave  chase  to  this  morning,"  shouted 
the  skipper,  from  Wilson's  room. 

"  Oh !  there's  hundreds  of  them  out  there,"  said  the 
accountant ;  "  so  let's  off  at  once." 

The  trio  now  proceeded  to  equip  themselves  for  the 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


233 


walk.  Their  costumes  were  peculiar,  and  merit  descrij)- 
tion.  As  they  were  similar  in  the  chief  points,  it  will 
suffice  to  describe  that  of  our  friend  Harry. 

Ou  his  head  he  wore  a  fur  cap  made  of  otter-skin,  with 
a  flap  on  each  side  to  cover  the  ears,  the  frost  being  so 
iutense  in  these  climates  that,  without  some  such  pro- 
tection, they  would  inevitably  freeze  and  fall  off. 

As  the  nose  is  constantly  in  use  for  the  purpos(?s  of 
respiration,  it  is  always  left  uncovered  to  fight  with  the 
culd  as  it  best  can ;  but  it  is  a  hard  battle,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  that,  if  it  were  possible,  a  nasal  covering  would  V>o 
extremely  pleasant.  Indeed,  several  desperate  efforts 
have  been  made  to  construct  some  sort  of  nose-bag,  but 
hitherto  without  success,  owing  to  the  uncomfortable  fact 
that  the  breath  issuing  from  that  organ  immediately 
freezes,  and  converts  the  covering  into  a  bag  of  snow  or 
ice,  which  is  not  agreeable.  Round  his  neck,  Harry 
wound  a  thick  shawl  of  such  portentous  dimensions,  that 
it  entirely  enveloped  the  neck  and  lower  part  of  the  face ; 
thus  the  entire  head  was,  as  it  were,  ecli})sed,  the  eyes, 
the  nose,  and  the  cheek-bones  alone  being  visible.  He 
then  threw  on  a  coat  made  of  deer-skin,  so  prepared  that 
it  bore  a  slight  resemblance  to  excessively  coarse  chamoia 
leather.  It  was  somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  long,  wide 
svirtout,  overlapping  very  much  in  front,  and  confined 
closely  to  the  figure  by  means  of  a  scarlet  woi*sted  belt 
instead  of  buttons,  and  was  ornamented  round  the  foot  by 
a  number  of  cuts,  which  produced  a  fringe  of  little  toils. 
Being  lined  with  thick  flannel,  this  portion  of  attire  was 
rather  heavy,  but  extremely  necessary.  A  pair  of  blue 
cloth  leggins,  having  a  loose  flap  on  the  outside,  were 
next  drawn  on  over  the  trousera,  as  an  additional  protec- 

16 


# 


i'6- 


2.U 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUN'nriAM.S 


Hon  to  the  knec3.  The  feet,  besides  being  portions  of 
the  body  that  are  peculiarly  suceptible  of  cold,  had  further 
to  contend  against  the  chafing  of  the  lines  which  attach 
them  to  the  snow-shoes,  so  that  special  care  in  their  pre- 
paration for  duty  was  necessary.  First  were  put  on  a 
pair  of  blanketing  or  duffle  sock.s,  which  were  merely 
()l)long  in  form,  without  sewing  or  making  up  of  any  kind. 
These  were  wrapped  round  the  feet,  which  were  next 
thrust  into  a  pair  of  made-up  socks,  of  the  same  material, 
having  ankle  pieces ;  above  these  were  put  another  pair, 
without  flaps  for  the  ankles.  Over  all  was  drawn  a  pair 
of  mocciisins  made  of  stout  deer-skin,  similar  to  that  of 
th^  coat.  Of  coui"se,  the  elegance  of  Harry's  feet  wa.s 
entii'ely  destroyed,  and  had  he  been  met  in  this  guise  by 
any  of  his  friends  in  the  "  old  country,"  they  would  infal- 
libly have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he  was  afflicted 
with  gout.  Over  his  shoulders  he  slung  a  powder-horn 
and  shot-pouch,  the  latter  tastefully  embroidered  witli 
dyed  quill  work.  A  j)air  of  deer-skin  mittens,  having  a 
little  bag  for  the  thumb,  and  a  large  bag  for  the  Angel's, 
completed  his  costume. 

While  the  three  were  making  ready,  with  a  running 
accompaniment  of  grunts  and  groans  at  refractory  pieces 
of  apparel,  the  night  without  became  darker,  and  the 
snow  fell  thicker,  so  that,  when  they  issued  suddenly  out 
sf  their  warm  abode,  and  emerged  into  the  sharp  frosty 
air,  which  blew  the  snowdrift  into  their  eyes,  they  felt 
a  momentary  desire  to  give  up  the  project  and  rettirn  ^.o 
tlieir  comfortable  quarteiu 

"What  a  dismal-looking  night  it  is  I"  said  the  accountant, 
a.^  he  led  the  way  along  the  wooden  platform  towards  the 
gate  of  the  fort. 


i;t 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


235 


"  Very ! "  replied  Hamilton,  witli  an  involuntary 
shudder. 

"  Keep  up  your  heart,"  said  Harry,  in  a  cheerful  voice, 
<<yp-  Ve  no  notion  how  your  mind  will  change  on  that 
|)i)int  when  you  have  walked  a  mile  or  so  and  got  into  a 
comfortable  heat.  I  must  confess,  however,  that  a  little 
moonshine  would  be  an  improvement,"  he  added,  on 
stumbling,  for  the  third  time,  off  the  platform  into  the 
deep  snow. 

"  It  is  full  moon  just  now,"  said  the  accountant,  "  and 
I  think  the  clouds  look  as  if  they  would  break  soon.  At 
any  rate,  I've  been  at  North  River  so  often  that  I  believe 
I  could  walk  out  there  blindfold." 

As  he  spoke  they  passed  the  gate,  and  diverging  to  the 
right,  proceeded,  as  well  as  the  imperfect  light  permitted, 
along  the  footpath  that  led  to  the  forest. 


236 


BNOWFLAKES  AJID  SUNBEAMS 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


The  walk  continued ;  frozen  toes ;  an  encampment  in  the  snow. 

A  FTER  qiiitting  York  Fort,  the  tliree  frionds  followed  the 
track  leading  to  the  spot  where  the  winter's  firewood  was 
cut.  Snow  was  still  falling  thickly,  and  it  was  with 
some  diflicnlty  that  the  accountant  kept  in  the  right 
direction.  The  night  was  excessively  dark,  while  the 
dense  fir  forest,  through  which  the  r  arrow  road  ran, 
rendered  the  gloom  if  possible  more  intense. 

"When  they  had  proceeded  about  a  mile,  their  leader 
suddenly  came  to  a  stand. 

"We  must  quit  the  track  now,"  said  he,  "so  get  on 
your  snow-shoes  as  fast  as  you  can." 

Hitherto  they  had  carried  their  snow-shoes  under  their 
arms,  as  the  beaten  track  along  which  they  travelled 
rendered  them  unnecessary ;  but  now,  having  to  leave  the 
path  and  pursue  tlie  remainder  of  their  journey  through 
deep  snow,  they  availed  themselves  of  those  useful 
machines,  by  means  of  which  the  inhabitants  of  this  jiaii 
of  North  America  are  enabled  to  journey  over  many  miloa 
of  trackless  wilderness,  with  nearly  as  much  ease  as  a 
sportsman  can  traverse  the  moors  in  autumn,  and  that  over 
snow  so  deep  that  one  hour's  walk  through  it  loithoiit  such 
aids  would  completely  exhaust  the  stoutest  trapper,  and 
advance  him  only  a  mile  or  so  on  his  journey.  In  other 
words,  to  walk  without  snow-shoes  would  be  utterly  im- 


FllOM  THE  FAR  NOUTU, 


237 


possible,  while  to  walk  with  tliem  is  easy  and  agrecablo. 
They  arc  not  used  after  the  manner  of  skates,  with  a 
sHilinj,  but  a  stepping  action,  and  their  solo  use  is  to  sup- 
port the  wearer  on  the  top  of  snow,  into  which,  without 
them,  he  would  sink  up  to  the  waist.  When  we  say  that 
they  support  the  wearer  on  the  top  of  the  snow,  of  course 
we  do  not  mean  that  they  literally  do  not  break  the  surface 
at  all.  But  the  depth  to  which  they  sink  is  comparatively 
trifling,  and  varies  according  to  the  state  of  the  snow  and 
(lie  season  of  the  year.  In  the  woods  they  sink  frequently 
about  six  inches,  sometimes  more,  sometimes  less,  while 
on  frozen  rivers,  where  the  snow  is  packed  solid  by  the 
action  of  the  wind,  they  sink  only  tAvo  or  three  inches, 
and  sometimes  so  little  as  to  render  it  preferable  to  walk 
without  them  altogether.  Snow-shoes  are  made  of  a  light 
strong  framework  of  wood,  varying  from  three  to  six  feet 
long  by  eighteen  and  twenty  inches  broad,  tapering  to  a 
point  before  and  behind,  and  turning  up  in  front.  Dif- 
ferent tribes  of  Indians  modify  the  form  a  little,  but  in  all 
essential  points  they  are  the  same.  The  framework  is 
filled  up  with  a  netting  of  deer-skin  threads,  which  unites 
lightness  with  great  strength,  and  permits  any  snow  that 
may  chance  to  fall  upon  the  netting  to  pass  through  it 
like  a  sieve. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  snovr,  having  recently 
fallen,  was  soft,  and  the  walking,  consequently,  what  is 
called  heavy. 

"  Come  on,"  shouted  the  accountant,  as  he  came  to  a 
stand  for  the  third  time  witliin  half  an  hour,  to  await  the 
coming  up  of  poor  Hamilton,  who,  being  rather  awkward 
in  snow-shoe  walking,  even  in  daylight,  found  it  nearly 
impossible  in  the  dark. 


"¥' 


0 


238 


SNOWFI.AKKS  AND  SUNIU'AMS 


i  'If 


"Wait  a  little,  please,"  replied  a  faint  voice  in  the  tlis- 
tjincc,  "  I've  got  among  a  quantity  of  willows,  and  find  it 
very  difficult  to  get  on.     I've  been  down  t^ico  al " 

The  sudden  cessation  of  the  voice,  and  a  loud  crash  as 
f»f  breaking  bninches,  provcwl  too  clearly  that  our  friend 
had  accomplished  his  third  fall. 

"  Tliero  he  goes  again,"  exclaimed  IlaiTy  Somerville, 
who  came  up  at  the  moment.  "  I've  helped  him  up  once 
already.  We'll  never  get  to  North  River  at  tlds  rate. 
What  is  to  be  done  1 " 

"  Let's  see  what  has  become  of  liim  this  time,  however," 
Baid  the  accountant,  as  ho  began  to  retrace  his  steps. 
"  If  I  mistake  not,  he  made  rather  a  heavy  plunge  that 
time,  judging  from  the  sound." 

At  that  moment  the  clouds  overhead  broke,  and  a 
moonbeam  shot  down  into  the  forest,  throwing  a  pale 
light  over  the  cold  scene.  A  few  steps  brought  Harry  and 
the  accountant  to  the  spot  whence  the  sound  had  proceeded, 
and  a  loud  startling  laugh  rang  through  the  night  air,  us 
the  latter  suddenly  beheld  poor  Hamilton  struggling  witli 
his  arms,  head,  and  shoulders  stuck  into  the  snow,  his  snow- 
shoes  twisted  and  sticking  with  the  heels  iip  and  awry, 
in  a  sort  of  rampant  confusion,  and  his  gun  buried  to  the 
locks  beside  him.  Regaining  one's  perpendicular  after  a 
fall  in  deep  snow,  when  the  feet  are  encumbered  by  a 
pair  of  long  snow-shoes,  is  by  no  means  an  easy  thing  to 
accomplish,  in  conscqxience  of  the  impossibility  of  getting 
hold  of  anything  solid,  on  which  to  rest  the  hands.  The 
depth  is  so  great  that  the  outstretched  amis  cannot  find 
bottom,  and  every  successive  struggle  only  sinks  the  un- 
happy victim  deeper  down.  Should  no  assistance  be  near, 
he  will  soon  beat  the  snow  to  a  solidity  that  will  enable 


FKOM  THE  FAU  NOU'l  II. 


231) 


him  to  rise,  but  not  in  a  v«;ry  enviable  or  comfoitubln 
Luiidition. 

"Give  me  a  hand,  Harry,"  gasped  Hamilton,  us  Le 
managed  to  twist  his  head  upwards  for  a  moment. 

"Hero  you  are,"  cried  Harry,  holding  out  his  hand 
and  endeavouring  to  suppress  his  desire  to  laugh,  "  up 
with  you,"  and  in  another  moment  the  poor  youth  was 
upon  his  legs,  with  every  fold  and  crevice  about  his  per- 
son stuffed  to  repletion  with  snow. 

"Come,  cheer  up,"  cried  the  accountant,  giving  the 
youtli  a  slap  on  the  back,  "  there's  nothing  like  (ixperienee 
— the  proverb  says  that  it  even  teaches  fools,  so  you  need 
not  dcsj)air." 

Hamilton  smiled  as  he  endeavoured  to  shake  off  some 
of  his  white  coating. 

"  We  11  be  all  right  immediately,"  added  llariy,  "  I  see 
that  the  country  ahead  is  more  open,  so  the  walking  will 
be  easier." 

"  Oh  !  I  wish  that  I  had  not  come,"  said  Hamilton,  sor- 
rowfully, "  because  I  am  only  detaining  you.  But  per- 
haps I  shall  do  better  as  we  get  on.  At  any  rate  I  cannot 
go  back  now,  as  I  could  never  find  the  way." 

"  Go  back  !  of  course  not,"  said  the  accountant,  "  in  a 
shoi-t  time  we  shall  get  into  the  old  woodcuttei"s'  track 
of  last  year,  and  although  it's  not  beaten  at  all,  yet  it  is 
pretty  level  and  open,  so  that  we  shall  get  on  famously." 

"  Go  on,  then,"  sighed  Hamilton. 

*'  Drive  ahead,"  laughed  Harry,  and  without  farther 
delay  they  resumed  their  march,  which  was  soon  rendered 
more  cheerful  a&  the  clouds  rolled  away,  the  snow  ceased 
to  fall,  and  the  bright,  full  moon  poured  its  rays  down 
upon  their  path. 


^^it 


240 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


For  along  time  they  proceeded  in  silence;  the  niufUed 
Round  of  the  snow,  as  it  sank  beneath  their  regular  foot- 
steps, heiug  the  only  interruption  to  the  universal  stillness 
around.  There  is  something  verv  solemnising  in  a  scene 
such  as  we  are  now  describing.  The  calm  tranquillity  of 
tlie  arctic  night ;  the  pure  whiteness  of  the  snowy  cui'pet, 
wliich  rendered  the  dark  firs  inky  black  by  contrast ;  the 
clear,  cold,  starry  sky,  that  glimmered  behind  the  dark 
clouds,  whoso  heavy  masses,  now  rolling  across  the  moon, 
partinlly  obsciired  the  landscape,  and  anon,  passing  slowly 
away,  let  a  flood  of  light  down  upon  the  forest,  which, 
penetrating  between  the  thick  branches,  scattered  the 
surface  of  the  snow,  as  it  wei-e,  with  flakes  of  silver. 
Sleep  has  often  been  applied  as  a  simile  to  nature  in 
repose,  but  in  this  case  death  seemed  more  appropriate. 
So  silent,  so  cold,  so  still  was  the  scene,  that  it  filled  the 
mind  with  an  indefinable  feeling  of  dread,  as  if  there  was 
some  mysterioiis  danger  near.  Once  or  twice  during  their 
walk  the  three  travellers  paiised  to  r(;st,  but  they  spoke 
little,  and  in  subdued  voices,  as  if  they  feared  to  break  the 
silence  of  the  nir>-ht. 

"  It  is  strange,"  said  Harry,  in  a  low  tone,  as  ho 
walked  beside  Hamilton,  "  that  such  a  scene  as  this 
always  makes  me  think  more  than  \isual  of  home." 

"  And  yet  it  is  natural,"  replied  the  other,  "because  it 
reminds  us  more  forcibly  than  any  other  that  we  are  in  a 
foreign  land — in  the  lonely  wilderness — far  away  from 
home." 

B(^th  Harry  and  Hamilton  had  been  trained  h.  families 
where  the  Almighty  was  feai'cd  and  loved ;  and  where 
their  minds  had  been  early  led  to  reflect  xqwn  tho 
Creator  when    regarding  tlio  works  of  his  hand;  theit 


FllOil  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


241 


tlioujjlits,  therefore,  naturally  reverted  to  another  home, 
(.ompared  with  which,  this  world  is  indeed  a  cold,  lonely 
wilderness ;  but  on  such  subjects  they  feared  to  convei-si;, 
[)ai'tly  from  a  dread  of  the  ridicule  of  reckless  com- 
panions, partly  from  ignorance  of  each  other's  feelings  on 
religious  matters,  and,  although  their  minds  were  busy, 
their  tongues  were  silent. 

The  ground  over  which  the  greater  part  of  their  path 
l;iy  was  a  swam^i,  which,  being  now  frozen,  was  a  beauti- 
ful white  plain,  so  that  their  advance  was  more  rapid, 
\uitil  they  approached  the  belt  of  woodland  that  skirts 
North  River.  Here  they  again  encountered  the  heavy 
suow,  which  had  been  such  a  source  of  diiEculty  to  Ha- 
milton at  setting  out.  He  had  profited  by  his  former 
experience,  however,  and,  by  the  exercise  of  an  excessive 
degree  of  caution,  managed  to  scramble  through  the 
woods  tolerably  well,  emerging  at  last,  along  with  his 
companions,  on  the  bleak  margin  of  what  appeared  to  be 
the  frozen  sea. 

North  Iliver,  at  this  place,  is  several  miles  broad,  and 
the  opposite  shore  is  so  low,  that  the  snow  causes  it  to 
appear  but  a  slight  undulation  of  the  frozen  bed  of  the 
liver.  Indeed,  it  would  not  be  distinguishable  at  all,  weie 
it  not  for  the  willow  bushes  and  dwarf  pines,  whose  tops, 
rising  above  the  white  garb  of  winter,  indicate  that  terra 
Jiniia  lies  below. 

"  What  a  cold,  desolate-looking  place  ! "  said  Hamilton, 
as  the  party  stood  still  to  recover  breath  before  taking 
their  way  over  the  plain  to  the  spot  where  the  account- 
ant's traps  were  set.  "  It  looks  much  more  like  the 
frozen  sea  than  a  river." 

"  It  can  scarcely  be  called  a  river  at  this  place,"   rr)- 


i? 


1 


I  ill  I 


212 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNIJEAMS 


Hi; 


(I 


inarkeil  the  accountant,  "  seeing  that  the  water  liere- 
ahouts  is  brackish,  and  the  tides  ebb  and  flow  a  good  way 
np.  In  fact,  this  is  the  extreme  mouth  of  North  River, 
and  if  you  turn  your  eyes  a  little  to  the  right,  towards 
yonder  ice-hummock  in  the  plain,  you  behold  the  frozen 
8ea  itself." 

"  Where  are  your  traps  set  ? "  inquired  Harry. 

"  Down  in  the  hollow  behind  /on  point  covered  with 
brushwood." 

"  Oh,  we  shall  soon  get  to  them,  then ;  come  along," 
cried  Harry. 

Harry  was  mistaken,  however.  He  had  not  yet 
learned  by  experience  the  extreme  difficulty  of  judging  of 
distance  in  the  xincertain  light  of  night ;  a  difficulty  that 
was  incro  rsed  by  his  ignorance  of  the  locality,  and  by  the 
gleams  of  moonshine  that  shot  through  the  driving  clouds, 
and  threw  confused,  fantastic  shadows  over  the  plain. 
The  point  which  he  had  at  fii'st  supposed  was  covered 
with  low  bushes,  and  about  a  hundred  yards  off,  proved 
to  be  clad  in  reality  with  large  bushes  and  small  trees, 
and  lav  at  a  dintance  of  two  miles. 

"  I  think  you  have  been  mistaken  in  supposing  the 
point  so  near,  Harry,"  said  Hamilton,  as  he  tioidged  on 
beside  his  friend. 

"  A  fact,  evident  to  the  naked  eye,"  replied  HaiTV. 
"  How  do  your  feet  stand  it,  eh  ?  Beginning  to  lose 
bark  yet  ? " 

Hamilton  did  not  feel  quite  sure.  "  I  think."  snid  he, 
Boftly,  "  that  there  is  a  blister  under  the  big  toe  of  my 
left  foot.     It  feels  veiy  painful." 

"  If  you  fe<>l  at  all  uncertain  about  it,  }'ou  may  rest 
itssured  that  there  is  a  blister.     These  tilings  don't  gi\'e 


PROM  TUE  F.VR  NORTH. 


243 


naich  pain  at  first.  I'm  sorry  to  tell  you,  my  dear 
fellow,  that  you'll  be  painfully  aware  of  tlie  fact  to- 
morrow. However,  don't  distress  yourself.  It's  a  part 
of  the  experience  that  eveiy  one  goes  through  in  this 
countiy.  Besides,"  said  Harry,  smiling,  "  we  can  send 
to  the  fort  for  medical  advice." 

"  Don't  bother  the  poor  fellow,  and  hold  your  tongue, 
Il^rry,"  said  the  accountant,  who  now  began  to  tread 
more  cautiously  as  he  approached  the  place  where  the 
traps  were  set. 

"  How  many  traps  have  you  1 "  inquired  Harry,  in  a 
low  tone. 

"  Three,"  replied  the  accountant. 

"  Do  you  know  I  have  a  very  strange  feeling  about 
my  heels — or,  rather,  a  want  of  feeling,"  said  Hamilton, 
smiling  dubiously. 

"  A  want  of  feeling  !  what  do  you  mean  ? "'  cried  the 
accountant,  stopping  suddenly  and  confronting  his  younj^ 
ffiend. 

"  Oh !  I  daresay  it's  nothing,"  he  exclaimed,  looking 
iis  if  ashamed  of  having  spoken  of  it,  "  onl}  I  feel  exactly 
i\s  if  both  my  heels  were  cut  off,  and  I  were  walking  on 
tip-toe ! " 

"  Say  you  so  1  then  right-about  wheel.  Your  heels 
are  frozen,  man,  and  you'll  lose  them  if  you  don't  look 
sharp." 

"  Frozen  !"  cried  Hamilton,  with  a  look  of  incredulity. 

"  Ay,  frozen  ;  and  it's  lucky  you  told  mo.  I've  a  place 
up  in  the  woods  here,  wliicli  I  call  my  v/iiiter  canrp, 
where  we  can  get  you  put  tu  rights ;  but  step  out ;  the 
longer  we  are  about  it,  the  worse  for  you." 

J  J  any  Somcrville  was  at  first  disposed  to  think  that 


244 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


■I      *l! 


the  accountant  jested,  but  seeing  that  he  turned  his  back 
towards  his  traps,  and  made  for  the  nearest  point  of  the 
thick  woods,  with  a  stride  thpt  betokened  thorough  sin- 
cerity, he  became  anxious  too,  and  followed  as  fast  as 
possible. 

The  pla'j  to  which  the  accountant  led  his  young 
friends  was  a  group  of  fir  trees  which  grew  on  a  little 
knoll,  tliat  rose  a  few  feet  above  the  surrounding  level 
country.  At  the  foot  of  this  hillock,  a  small  rivulet  or 
burn  ran  in  summer,  but  the  only  evic'cnce  of  its  presence 
now  was  the  absence  of  willow  bxshes  all  along  its 
covered  narrow  bed.  A  level  track  was  thus  formed  by 
natvire,  free  from  all  underwood,  and  running  inland 
about  the  distance  of  a  mile,  where  it  was  lost  in  the 
swamp  whence  the  stream  issued.  The  wooded  knoll,  or 
hillock,  lay  at  the  mouth  of  this  brook,  and,  being  the 
only  elevated  spot  in  the  neighbourhood,  besides  having 
the  largest  trees  growing  on  it,  had  been  selected  by  the 
accountant  as  a  convenient  place  for  "  camping  out "  on, 
when  he  visited  his  traps  in  winter,  and  happened  to  be 
either  too  late,  or  disinclined,  to  return  home.  Moreover, 
the  spreading  fir  branches  afforded  an  excellent  shelter 
alike  from  wind  and  snow  in  the  centre  of  the  clump ; 
while  from  the  margin  was  obtained  a  partial  view  of  the 
river  and  the  sea  beyond.  Indeed,  from  this  look-out 
there  was  a  very  fine  prospect  on  clear  winter  nights  of 
the  white  landscape,  enlivened  occasionally  by  groups  of 
arctic  foxes,  which  might  be  seen  scampering  about  iu 
sport,  and  gambolling  among  the  hummocks  of  ice  like 
young  kittens. 

"  Now  we  shall  turn  up  here,"  said  the  accoimtant,  as 
lie  walked  a  short  way  up  the  brook  before-nientioucd, 


i! 


FROM  THE  FAR  NOHTII. 


2\0 


f\ti(l  halted  in  front  of  what  appeared  to  be  an  impenetrable 
mass  of  bushes. 

"  We  shall  have  to  cut  our  way,  then,"  said  Harry, 
looking  to  the  right  and  left,  in  the  vain  hope  of  dis- 
covering a  place  where,  the  bushes  being  less  dense,  they 
might  effect  an  entrancu  into  the  knoll  or  grove. 

"  Not  so.  I  have  taken  cai-e  to  make  a  passage  into 
my  winter  camp,  although  it  was  only  a  whim  after  all  to 
make  a  coucealed  entrance  ;  seeing  that  no  one  ever  passes 
this  way,  except  wolves  and  foxes,  whose  noses  render  the 
use  of  their  eyes  in  most  cases  unnecessary," 

So  saying,  the  accountant  turned  aside  a  thick  branch, 
and  disclosed  a  naiTow  track,  into  which  he  entered, 
followed  by  his  two  companions. 

A  few  minutes  brought  them  to  the  centre  of  the  knoll. 
Here  they  found  a  cleur  space  of  about  twenty  feet  in 
diameter,  around  which  the  trees  circled  so  thickly,  that 
in  daylight  nothing  could  be  seen  but  tree  stems  as  fiir 
as  the  eye  could  penetrate,  while  overhead  the  broad  flat 
branches  of  the  firs,  with  their  evergreen  verdure,  spread 
out  and  intei'laced  so  thickly,  that  very  little  light  pene- 
trated into  the  space  below.  Of  course  at  night,  even  in 
moonlight,  the  place  was  pitch  dark.  Into  this  retreat 
the  accountant  led  his  companions,  and,  bidding  them 
stand  still  for  a  minute  lest  they  should  tumble  into  the 
fireplace,  ho  proceeded  to  strike  a  light. 

Those  wlio  have  never  travelled  in  the  wild  parts  of  this 
world  can  form  but  a  faint  conception  of  the  extraordinary 
and  sudden  change  that  is  produced,  not  only  in  the  scene, 
but  in  the  mind  of  the  beholder,  when  a  blazing  fire  is 
lighted  in  a  dark  night.  Before  the  fire  is  kindled,  and 
you  stand,  perhaps,  (as  Harry  and  his  friend  did  on  the 


i 


\vi 


24G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


'M 


mW 


(I 


I 

I 


iiih 


present  occiisiou)  shivering  in  the  cohl,  the  heart  sinks,  and 
sad  gloomy  thoughts  arise,  while  your  eye  endeavours  to 
pierce  the  thick  darkness,  which,  if  it  succeed  in  doing  so. 
only  adds  to  the  effect  by  disclosing  the  pallid  snow,  the 
cold,  chilling  beams  of  the  moon,  the  wide  vistas  of  savage 
scenery,  the  awe-inspiring  solitudes  that  tell  of  your 
isolated  condition,  or  stir  up  sad  memories  of  other  and 
far  distant  scenes.  But  the  moment  the  first  spark  of 
fire  sends  a  fitful  gleam  of  light  upwards,  these  thoughts 
and  feelinjjs  take  winjj  and  vanish.  The  indistinct  seen- 
ery  is  rendered  utterly  invisible  by  the  red  light,  whicli 
attracts  and  rivets  the  eye  as  if  by  a  species  of  fiscin.ition. 
The*  deep  shadows  of  the  woods  immediately  around  you 
grow  deeper  and  blacker  as  the  flames  leap  and  sparklt; 
\ipwards,  causing  the  stems  of  the  surrounding  trees,  and 
the  foliage  of  the  overhanging  brsinches,  to  stand  out  in 
bold  relief,  liathed  in  a  ruddy  glow,  which  converts  Mio 
forest  chamber  into  a  snug  home-like  place,  and  fills  the 
mind  with  agreeable,  home-like  feelings  and  meditations. 
It  seems  as  if  the  spirit,  in  the  one  case,  were  set  loose 
and.etherealiscd  to  enable  it  to  spread  itself  over  the  plains 
of  cold,  cheerless,  illimitable  space,  and  left  to  dwell  upon 
objects  too  wide  to  grasp,  too  indistinct  to  comprehend  ; — 
while,  in  the  other,  it  is  recalled  and  concentrated  upon 
matters  circurasciibed  and  congenial,  things  of  wh.  !i  it 
has  long  been  cognisant,  and  which  it  can  appreciate  and 
enjoy  without  the  effort  of  a  thought. 

Some  such  thoughts  and  feelings  passed  rapidly  through 
the  minds  of  Harry  and  Hamilton,  wliile  the  accountant 
stitick  a  light  and  kindled  a  roaring  fire  of  logs,  which 
he  had  cut  and  arranged  there  on  a  previous  occasion. 
lu  the  middle  of  th.e  space  thus  brilliantly  illuminated, 


FKOM  THE  FAR  NORTir, 


247 


the  snow  had  been  cleared  awav  till  the  moss  was  \u\- 
covered,  thus  leaving  a  hole  of  about  ten  feet  in  diameter. 
As  the  snow  was  quite  four  feet  deep,  the  hole  was  sur- 
rounded with  a  pure  white  wall,  whose  height  was  further 
increased  by  the  masses,  thrown  out  in  the  process 
of  digging,  to  a  height  of  nearly  six  feet.  At  one  end 
of  this  space  was  the  large  fire  which  had  just  been 
kindled,  and  which,  owing  to  the  intense  cold,  only  melted 
a  very  little  of  the  snow  in  its  immediate  neighbourhoofl. 
At  the  other  end  lay  a  mass  of  flat  pine  bi'anches,  which 
were  piled  up  so  thickly  as  to  form  a  pleasant  elastic  couch, 
the  upper  end  being  slightly  raised  so  as  to  fonn  a  kind 
of  bolster,  while  the  lower  extended  almost  into  the  fire. 
Indeed,  the  branches  at  the  extremity  were  burnt  quite 
brown,  and  some  of  them  charred.  Besi«le  the  bolster  lay 
a  small  wooden  box,  a  round  tin  kettle,  an  iron  tea-kettle, 
two  tin  mugs,  a  hatchet,  and  a  large  bundle  tied  up  in  a 
green  blanket.  There  were  thus,  as  it  were,  two  apart- 
ments, one  within  the  other  ;  namely  the  outer  one,  whose 
Willis  were  formed  of  tree-stems  and  thick  darkness,  and  the 
ceiling  of  gi*een  boughs  ;  and  then  the  inner  one  with  walla 
of  snow,  that  sparkled  in  the  fii'elight  as  if  set  with  pre- 
cious stones,  and  a  carpet  of  evergreen  branches. 

Within  this  latter  our  three  liiends  were  soon  actively 
employed.  Poor  Hamilton's  moccasins  were  speedily  re- 
moved, and  his  friends,  going  down  on  their  knees,  began 
to  rub  his  feet  with  a  degree  of  energy  that  induced  him 
to  beg  for  mercy. 

"  Mercy  ! "  exclaimed  the  accountant,  without  pausing 
for  an  instant,  "  faith,  it's  little  mercy  there  would  be  in 
stopping  just  now.  Rub  away,  Harry.  Don't  give  in. 
They're  coming  rig'.it  at  la,si.* 


; 


248 


SyOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


After  a  veiy  severe  rubbing,  the  heels  "began  to  .sliew 
symptoms  of  returning  vitality.  They  were  then  wrapped 
up  in  the  folds  of  a  thick  blanket,  and  held  sufficiently 
near  to  the  fire  to  prevent  any  chance  of  the  frost  getting 
at  them  again. 

"  Now,  my  boy,"  said  the  accountant,  as  he  sat  down  to 
enjoy  a  pipe  and  rest  himself  on  a  blanket,  which,  along  with 
the  one  wrapped  round  Hamilton's  feet,  had  been  extracted 
from  the  green  bundle  before  mentioned — **  Now,  my  boy, 
you'll  have  to  enjoy  youi-self  here  as  you  best  can  for  an 
hour  or  two,  while  Harry  and  I  visit  the  traps.  Would 
you  like  supper  before  we  go,  or  shall  we  have  it  on  our 
return  ? " 

"Oh,  I'll  wait  for  it  by  all  means  till  you  return.  I 
don't  feel  a  bit  hungry  just  now,  and  it  will  be  much 
more  cheerful  to  have  it  after  all  your  work  is  over. 
Besides,  I  feel  my  feet  too  painful  to  enjoy  it  just  now." 

"  My  poor  follow,"  said  Harry,  whose  heart  smote  him 
for  having  been  disposed  at  fii*st  to  treat  the  thing  lightl}', 
"  I'm  really  sorry  for  you.  AVould  you  not  like  me  to 
stay  with  you  1 " 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Hamilton,  qiiickly.  "  Yon 
can  do  nothing  more  for  me,  Harry;  and  I  should  be  very 
sorry  if  you  missed  seeing  the  traps." 

"  Oh,  never  mind  the  traps.  I've  seen  traps,  and  sot 
them  too,  fifty  times  before  now.  I'll  stop  with  you,  old 
boy,  I  will;"  said  Harr;'^,  doggedly,  while  he  made  arrange- 
ments to  settle  down  for  the  evening. 

"  Well,  if  1/ou  won't  go,  I  will,"  said  Hamilton,  coolly, 
as  he  unwound  the  blanket  from  his  feet  and  began  to 
pull  on  Ills  socks. 

"  Bravo,  my  lad  ! "  exclaimed  the  accountant,  patting 


'n 


mOM  THE  FAK  NORTH. 


249 


him  approvingly  on  the  back ;  "  I  didn't  think  you  liad 
liiilf  so  much  pluck  in  you.  But  it  won't  do,  old  fellow. 
You're  in  my  castle  just  now,  and  must  obey  orders.  You 
couldn't  walk  half  a  mile  for  your  life  ;  so  just  be  pleased 
to  pull  off  your  socks  again.  Besides,  I  want  Hariy  to 
help  me  to  carry  up  my  foxes,  if  there  are  any  j  so  get 
ready,  sirrah !" 

"  Ay,  ay,  captain,"  cried  Harry,  with  a  laugh,  while 
he  sprang  up  and  put  on  his  snow-shoes. 

"  You  needn't  bring  your  gun,"  said  the  accountant, 
shaking  the  ashes  from  his  pipe  as  he  prepared  to  depart ; 
"  but  you  may  as  well  shove  that  axe  into  your  belt ;  you 
may  want  it.  Now,  mind,  don't  roast  your  feet,"  he 
added,  turning  to  Hamilton. 

"  Adieu  ! "  cried  Hariy,  with  a  nod  and  a  smile,  as  he 
turned  to  go.    "  Take  care  the  bears  don't  find  you  out." 

"  No  fear  j  good  bye,  Harry,"  replied  Hamilton,  as  his 
two  friends  disappeared  in  the  wood  and  left  him  to  Lia 
solitary  meditations. 


17 


250 


SNOWFLAKLS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


CILVPTER  XIX. 


Ill:         ) 


SI.CW8  how  the  accountant  and  Harry  set  their  traps,  and  v  liat  came  of  .'t. 

TiiK  moon  was  still  up,  and  the  sky  loss  overcast,  wlicii 
our  amateur  trappers  (piittecl  tlit  encauipment,  and,  dv>- 
oeiifling  to  the  mouth  of  the  little  brook,  took  their  way 
ovor  North  River  in  the  direction  of  the  accountant's  traps, 
liei^ig  somewhat  fatigued  both  in  mind  and  body  by  tJie 
unusual  exertions  of  the  night,  neither  of  them  spoke  foi* 
some  time,  but  continued  to  walk  in  silence,  contempla- 
tively gazing  at  their  long  shadows. 

"  Did  you  ever  trap  a  fox,  Harry  1 "  said  the  account- 
ant, nt  length. 

"  Yes,  I  used  to  set  traps  at  Red  River ;  but  the  foxes 
til  ere  are  not  numerous,  and  are  so  closely  watched  by 
the  dogs,  that  they  have  become  suspiciou.s.  I  caught  but 
few." 

"  Then  you  know  how  to  set  a  trap  1 " 

"  Oh,  yes !  I've  set  botli  steel  and  snow  traps  often. 
You've  heard  of  old  Labonte,  who  used  to  carry  one  of 
tlie  winter  packets  from  Red  River  until  within  a  few 
\  liars  back  1 " 

"  Yes,  I've  heard  of  him  :  his  name  is  in  my  ledger,  at 
least  if  you  mean  Pierre  Labonte,  who  came  down  last 
fall  wvth  the  brigade." 

'*  The  same.  Well,  he  was  a  great  frind  of  mine.  Hw 
little  cabin  lay  about  two  miles  from  Fort   Carry,  ami 


V     < 


rUOM  TlIK  KAU  NOKTH. 


251 


after  work  wtus  over  in  the  otlicr,  I  used  to  go  down  to  sit 
and  chat  witli  him  by  the  firo  ;  and  nuiny  a  time  I  luiv«! 
sat  ui)  ludf  the  night  listening  to  him  as  he  recounted  his 
ad  ventures.  The  ohl  man  never  tired  of  relating  tliem, 
and  of  smoking  twist  tobacco.  Among  otlier  tilings,  he 
set  my  mind  upon  trapping,  by  giving  me  an  account  of 
an  expedition  he  made,  when  quite  a  ymith,  to  the  llocky 
Mountains  ;  so  I  got  him  to  go  into  the  woods  and  teach 
lao  how  to  set  traps  and  snares,  and  I  flatter  myself  he 
found  me  an  apt  pvipil." 

"Humph!"  (ijaculated  the  accountant;  "I  iiave  no 
doubt  you  do  Jlatter  yoiu'self.  Hut  here  we  are.  Tlie 
traps  are  just  beyond  that  mound;  so  look  out,  and  don't 
stick  your  feet  into  them." 

"  Hist!"  exclaimed  Harrv,  lavinc;  his  hand  suddenlv 
on  his  cora])anion's  arm.  **  Do  you  see  tlmt'f'''  pointing 
towards  the  place  where  the  traps  were  said  to  be. 

"  You  have  sharp  e}  es,  younker ;  I  do  see  it,  now  that 
you  point  it  out.  It's  a  fox,  and  caught,  too,  as  I'm  a 
scrivener." 

*'  You're  in  luck,  to-night,"  exclaimed  Harry,  eagerly. 
*'  It's  a  silver  fox.     I  see  the  white  tip  on  its  tail." 

"  Nonsense,"  cried  the  accoinitant,  hastening  forward ; 
"'  but  we'll  soon  settle  the  point." 

Ifariy  proved  to  be  right.  On  reaching  the  spot  they 
ftnmd  a  beautiful  black  fox,  caught  by  the  fore  leg  in  a 
steel  trap,  and  gazing  at  them  with  a  look  of  terror. 

The  skin  of  the  silver  fox — so  called  from  a  slight 
sprinkling  of  pure  white  hairs  covering  its  othenviso  jet 
black  body — is  the  most  valuable  fur  obtained  by  the 
fur-tmders,  and  fetches  an  enormous  price  in  the  British 
market — so  much  as  tliiriy  pounds   sterling  being  fre- 


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252 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMf3 


quently  obtained  for  a  single  skin.  The  foxes  vary  in 
colour  from  jet  black,  which  is  the  most  valuable,  to  a 
light  silvery  hue,  and  are  hailed  as  great  prizes  by  the 
Indians  and  trappers  when  they  are  so  fortunate  as  to 
catch  them.  They  are  not  numerous,  however,  and  being 
exceedingly  wary  and  suspicious,  are  difficult  to  catch.  It 
may  be  supposed,  therefore,  that  our  friend  the  accountant 
ran  to  secure  his  prize  with  some  eagerness. 

"  Now  then,  my  beauty,  don't  shrink,"  he  said,  as  the 
poor  fox  backed,  at  liis  approach,  as  far  as  the  chain 
which  fastened  the  trap  to  a  log  of  wood  would  permit ; 
and  then,  standing  at  bay,  shewed  a  formidable  row  of 
teeth.  That  grin  was  its  last ;  another  moment,  and  the 
handle  of  the  accountant's  axe  stretched  it  Jifeless  on  the 
snow. 

"  Isn't  it  a  beauty !"  cried  he,  surveying  the  animal  with 
a  look  of  triumphant  pleasure :  and  then  feeling  as  if  he 
had  compromised  his  dignity  a  little  by  betraying  so  much 
glee,  he  added,  "  But  come  now,  Harry,  we  must  see  to  the 
other  trp.ps.     It's  getting  late." 

The  others  were  soon  visited ;  but  no  more  foxes  were 
caught.  However,  the  accountant  set  them  both  off  to  see 
that  all  was  right;  and  then  re-adjusting  one  himself,  told 
Harry  to  set  the  other,  in  order  to  clear  bimself  of  the 
charge  of  boasting. 

Harry,  nothing  loath,  went  down  on  his  knees  to  do 
so. 

The  steel  trap  used  for  catching  foxes  is  of  exactly  the 
same  form  as  the  ordinary  rat-trap,  with  this  difference 
that  it  has  two  springs  instead  of  one,  is  considerably 
larger,  and  has  no  teeth,  as  these  latter  would  only  tend 
to  spoil  the  skin.     Owing  to  the  strength  of  the  springs, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


253 


a  pretty  strong  effort  is  required  to  set  the  trap,  and 
clumsy  fellows  frequently  calich  the  tails  of  their  coats  or 
the  ends  of  their  belts,  and,  not  unfrcquently,  the  ends  of 
their  fingers,  in  their  awkward  attempts.  Having  set  it 
without  any  of  the  above  untoward  accidents  occurring, 
Harry  placed  it  gently  on  a  hole  wliich  he  had  previously 
.scraped ;  placing  it  in  such  a  manner  that  the  jaws  and 
plate,  or  trigger,  were  a  haii*sbreadth  below  the  level  of 
the  snow.  After  this  he  spread  over  it  a  very  thin  sheet 
of  paper,  observing  as  he  did  so  that  hay  or  grass  was 
))referable;  but,  as  there  was  none  at  hand,  paper  would 
do.  Over  this  he  sprinkled  snow  very  lightly,  until  every 
vestige  of  the  trap  was  concealed  from  view,  and  the 
whole  was  made  quite  level  with  the  sun-ounding  plain, 
so  that  even  the  accountant  himself,  after  he  had  once 
removed  his  eyes  from  it,  could  not  tell  where  it  lay. 
8ume  chips  of  a  frozen  ptarmigan  were  then  scattered 
around  the  spot,  and  a  piece  of  wood  left  to  mark  its 
whereabouts.  The  bait  is  always  scattered  round  and  not 
on  the  trap,  as  the  fox,  in  running  from  one  piece  to 
another,  is  almost  certain  to  set  his  foot  on  it,  and  so  get 
caught  by  the  leg ;  whereas,  were  the  bait  j^laced  vpon 
the  trap,  the  fox  would  be  apt  to  get  caught  while  in 
tlie  act  of  eating,  by  the  snout,  which,  being  wedge-like 
iu  form,  is  easily  dragged  out  of  its  gripe. 

"  Now  then,  what  say  you  to  going  farther  out  on  the 
river,  and  making  a  snow  trap  for  white  foxes  ?"  said  the 
accountant.  "We  shall  still  have  time  to  do  so  before 
the  moon  sets." 

"  Agreed,"  cried  Harry      "  Come  along." 
Without  further  parley    iiiey  left  the  spot  and  stretched 
out  to«vards  Ine  jea. 


«, 


*-  • 


i*' 


2U 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBKAM3 


The  .snow  on  the  river  avjis  quite  hard  on  itfi  surface,  so 
that  snow-shoes  being  unnecessary,  they  carried  them  over 
their  shoulders,  and  advanced  niucli  more  rapidly.  It  is 
ti'ue  tliat  their  road  was  a  good  deal  liroken,  and  jagged 
pieces  of  ice  protruded  their  sharp  corners  so  as  to  render 
a  little  attention  necessary  in  walldng;  Lut  one  or  two 
severe  bumps  on  their  toes  made  our  friends  sensitively  alive 
t(j  these  minor  dangers  of  the  way. 

"There  goes  a  pack  of  them  !"  exclaimed  Harry,  as  a 
troiip  of  wliite  foxL!S  scampered  past,  gambolling  as  they 
went,  and,  coming  suddenly  to  a  halt  at  a  short  distance, 
wheeled  about  and  .sat  down  on  their  haunches,  apparently 
resolved  to  have  a  good  look  at  the  strangers  who  dared 
to  venture  into  their  wild  domain. 

"  Oh !  they  are  the  most  stupid  brutes  alive,"  said  the 
accountant,  as  he  regarded  the  pack  with  a  look  of  con- 
tempt. "  I've  seen  one  of  them  sit  down  and  look  at  me 
while  I  set  a  trap  right  before  his  eyes;  and  I  had  not  got 
a  hundred  yards  from  the  spot  when  a  yell  informed  me 
that  the  gentleman's  curiosity  had  led  him  to  put  his  foot 
right  into  it." 

"Indeed!"  excLumed  Harry.  "I  had  no  idea  that 
tliey  were  so  tame.  Certainly  no  other  khid  of  fox  would 
do  tluit." 

"  No,  that's  certain.  But  these  fellows  liave  done  it  to 
me  again  and  again.  I  sln)uldn't  wonder  if  we  got  one  to- 
night in  the  very  same  way.  I'm  sure,  by  the  L^ok  of  these 
rascjds,  that  they  would  do  anything  of  a  leckless,  stupid 
nature  just  now." 

"  Had  we  not  better  make  our  trap  here,  then  ?  There 
is  a  point,  not  fifty  yards  off,  with  trees  on  it  large  enough 
for  our  purpose." 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


a.-)/) 


"  Ycs5,  it  will  do  very  well  here  ;  now,  then,  to  work. 
Go  to  the  wood,  Hariy,  and  fetch  a  log  or  two,  while  i 
cut  out  the  slabs."  So  saying,  the  accountant  drew  the 
axe  which  he  always  carried  in  his  belt ;  and,  while 
J  larry  entered  the  wood  and  began  to  hew  off  the  branch 
of  a  tree,  he  proceeded,  as  he  had  said,  to  "  cut  out  the 
slabs."  With  the  point  of  his  knife  he  fii-st  of  all  marked 
out  an  oblong  in  the  snow,  then  cut  down  three  or  four 
inches  with  the  axe,  and,  j)utting  the  handle  under  tlie 
cut,  after  the  manner  of  a  lever,  detached  a  thick  solid  slab 
of  about  three  inches  thick,  which,  although  not  so  hard 
as  ice,  was  quite  hard  enough  for  the  pui-pose  for  which 
it  wiis  intended.  He  then  cut  two  similar  slabs,  and  a 
smaller  one,  the  same  in  thickness  and  breadth,  but  only 
half  the  length.  Having  accomplished  this,  he  raised 
himself  to  rest  a  little,  and  observed  that  Harry  aj)- 
[iroached,  staggering  under  a  load  of  wood,  and  that  the 
foxes  were  still  sitting  on  their  haunches,  gazing  at  him 
M  ith  a  look  of  deej)  interest. 

"  If  I  only  had  my  gun  here  ! "  thought  he.  But  not 
having  it,  he  merely  shook  liis  fist  at  them,  stooped  down 
again  and  resumed  his  work.  With  Harry's  assistance 
the  slabs  were  placed  in  such  a  way  as  to  form  a  soi-t  of 
box  or  house,  having  one  end  of  it  open.  This  was  fur- 
ther plastered  with  soft  snow  at  the  joinings,  and  banked 
up  in  such  a  way  that  no  animal  could  break  into  it 
easily, — at  least  such  an  attempt  would  be  so  difficult  as  to 
make  an  entrance  into  the  interior  by  the  open  side  much 
more  probable.  When  this  was  finished,  they  took  the 
logs  that  Harry  had  cut  and  carried  with  so  much  diffi- 
culty from  the  wood,  and  began  to  lop  ofi"  the  smaller 
branches  and  twigs.     One  large  log  was  placed  across  the 


:f' 


4 


t 


■ 


'I 


^- 


2oQ 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Opening  of  the  ti*ap,  while  the  others  were  piled  on  one 
end  of  it  so  as  to  press  it  down  with  their  weight. 
Three  small  pieces  of  stick  were  now  prepared ;  two  of 
them  being  about  half  a  foot  long,  and  the  other  about  a 
foot.  On  the  long  i)iece  of  stick  the  breast  of  a  ptarmi- 
gan was  fixed  as  a  baitj  and  two  notches  cut,  the  one  at 
the  end  of  it,  the  other  about  four  or  five  inches  further 
down.     All  was  now  ready  to  set  the  trap. 

"Kaise  the  log  now  while  I  place  the  trigger,"  said 
Harry,  kneeling  down  in  front  of  the  door,  while  the 
accountant,  as  directed,  lifted  up  the  log  on  which  the 
others  lay  so  as  to  allow  his  companion  to  introduce  the 
bait-stick,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  support  it,  while  the 
slightest  pull  on  the  bait  would  set  the  stick  with  the 
notches  free,  and  thus  permit  the  log  to  fall  on  the  back 
of  the  fox,  whose  effort  to  reach  the  bait  would  necessarily 
place  him  under  it. 

While  Harry  was  thus  engaged,  the  accountant  stood 
vip  and  looked  towards  the  foxes.  They  had  approached 
so  near  in  their  curiosity,  that  he  was  induced  to  tlirow 
his  axe  frantically  at  the  foremost  of  the  pack.  This  set 
them  galloping  ofi",  but  they  soon  halted  and  sat  down  as 
before. 

"What  aggravating  brutes  they  are,  to  be  sure!"  said 
Harry,  with  a  laugh,  as  his  companion  returned  with  the 
hatchet. 

"Humph  !  yes,  but  we'll  be  upsides  with  them  yet 
Come  along  into  the  wood,  and  I  wager  that  in  ten 
minutes  we  shall  have  one." 

They  immediately  hurried  towards  the  wood,  but  ha;! 
not  walked  fifty  paces,  when  they  were  startled  by  a  lou^i 
yell  behind  them. 


t 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


257 


i; 


"  Dear  me ! "  exclaimed  the  accountant,  while  he  anil 
Harry  turned  round  with  a  start.  "  It  cannot  surely  be 
possible  that  they  have  gone  in  already."  A  loud  howl  fol- 
lowed the  remark,  and  the  whole  pack  fled  over  the  plain 
like  snowdrift  and  disappeared. 

"  Ah  !  that's  a  pity,  something  must  have  scared  them, 
to  make  them  take  wing  like  that.  However,  we'll  get 
one  to-morrow  for  certain;  so  come  along,  lad,  let  us  make 
for  the  camp." 

"  Not  so  fast,"  replied  the  other ;  "  if  you  hadn't  pored 
over  the  big  ledger  till  you  were  blind,  you  would  see  that 
there  is  one  prisoner  already." 

This  proved  to  be  the  case.  On  returning  to  the  spot 
they  found  an  arctic  fox  in  his  last  gasp,  lying  flat  on  the 
snow,  with  the  heavy  log  across  his  back,  which  seemed  to 
be  broken.  A  slight  tap  on  the  snout  with  the  account- 
ant's deadly  axe-handle  completed  his  destruction. 

"  We're  in  luck  to-night,"  cried  Harry,  as  he  kneeled 
again  to  re-set  the  trap.  "But  after  all,  these  white 
brutes  are  worth  very  little;  I  fancy  a  hundred  of 
their  skins  would  not  be  worth  the  black  one  you  got 
tii-st." 

"  Be  quick,  Harry.  The  moon  is  almost  down,  and 
poor  Hamilton  will  think  that  the  polar  bears  have  got 
hold  of  us." 

"  All  right !  now  then,  step  out,"  and,  glancing  once 
more  at  the  trap  to  see  that  all  was  properly  arranged, 
the  two  friends  once  more  turned  their  faces  homewards, 
and  travelled  over  the  snow  with  rapid  strides. 

The  moon  had  just  set,  leaving  the  desolate  scene  in 
deep  gloom,  so  that  they  could  scarcely  find  their  way  to 
tlie  forest ;  and,  when  they  'Jid  at  last  reach  its  shelter, 


I 


2r>s 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


the  niglit  became  so  intensely  dark  that  they  had  ahnfM;i 
to  grope  their  way,  and  would  certainly  have  lost  it  alto- 
gether were  it  not  for  the  accountant's  thorough  know- 
hxlge  of  the  locality.  To  add  to  their  discomfort,  as  they 
stumbled  on,  snow  began  to  fall ;  and,  ere  long,  a  pretty 
steady  breeze  of  wind  drove  it  sharply  in  their  faces. 
]rowevcr,  this  mattered  but  little,  as  they  penetrated 
deeper  in  among  the  trees,  which  proved  a  complete  shel- 
ter both  from  wind  and  snow.  An  hour's  march  brought 
them  to  the  mouth  of  the  brook,  although  half  that  time 
would  have  been  sufficient  had  it  been  daylight^  and,  a 
few  minutes  later,  they  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing 
Hamilton's  voice  hailing  them  as  they  pushed  aside  the 
bushes,  and  sprang  into  the  cheerful  light  of  their  en- 
campment. 

"  Hurrah  ! "  shouted  Harry,  as  he  leapt  into  the  space 
before  the  fire,  and  flung  the  two  foxes  at  Hamilton's  feet. 
"  "What  do  you  think  of  t/iatf  old  fellow  1  How  are  the 
heels  ?   Rather  sore  1  eh  !  Now  for  the  kettle.    *  Polly,  put 

the  kettle  on,  we'll  all  have '    My  eye !  where's  the 

kettle,  Hamilton  ?     Have  you  eaten  it  ? " 

"If  you  compose  yourself  a  little,  Harry,  and  look  at 
the  fire,  you'll  see  it  boiling  there." 

"  Man,  what  a  chap  you  are  for  making  unnecessary 
speeches.  Couldn't  you  tell  me  to  look  at  the  fire,  without 
the  preliminary  piece  of  advice  to  compose  myself?  Be- 
sides, you  talk  nonsense,  for  I'm  composed  already,  of 
blood,  bones,  flesh,  sinews,  fat,  and " 

"  Humbug,"  interrupted  the  accountant.  "  Lend  a  hand 
to  get  supper,  you  young  goose ! " 

"  And  so,"  continued  Harry,  not  noticing  the  interru]>- 
tion,  "  I  cannot  be  expected,  nor  is  it  necessary,  to  com- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


2r)0 


]iose  iiiyriclf  over  a^'ain.  IJut,  to  be  serious,"  lie  addcil,  "  it 
was  very  kind  and  considerate  of  you,  ITauimy,  to  put 
(Ml  the  kettle,  wlien  your  heels  were  in  a  manner  npiKi- 

lUDSt." 

"  Oil !  it  was  nothing  at  all ;  my  heels  are  much  l>ettei', 
tliaiik  you,  and  it  kept  me  from  wearying." 

"  Poor  fellow,"  said  the  accountant,  while  he  Inisied 
liiiiiself  in  preparing  their  evening  meal,  '■'  you  must  be  rpiite 
lavenous  by  this  time,  at  least  /  am,  which  is  the  same 


tiling. 


Supper  was  soon  ready.  It  consisted  of  a  large  kettle  of 
tea,  a  lump  of  pemican,  a  handful  of  broken  biscuit  and 
tluee  ptarmigan;  all  of  which  were  produced  from  the 
Miiall  wooden  box  which  the  accountant  was  wont  to  call 
liis  camp-larder.  The  ptarmigan  had  been  shot  two  weeks 
hefore,  and  carefully  laid  up  for  future  use,  the  intense 
frost  being  a  sufficient  guarantee  for  their  preservation  for 
many  months,  had  that  been  desired. 

It  Avould  have  done  you  good,  reader,  (supposing  }ou 
tu  hi'  possessed  of  .sympathetic  feelings)  to  have  witnes.-^ed 
those  three  nor' westers  enjoying  their  supper  in  th* 
snowy  camp.  The  fire  h.ad  been  replenished  with  logs, 
till  it  roared  and  crackled  again,  as  if  it  were  endued  with 
a  \'icious  spirit,  and  wished  to  set  the  very  snow  in  flames. 
The  walls  shone  like  alabaster  studded  Avith  diamonds, 
Avhilo  the  green  boughs  overhead  and  the  stems  around 
were  of  a  deep  red  colour  in  the  light  of  the  fierce  blii/o. 
The  tea  kettle  hissed,  fumed,  and  boiled  over  into  the  fire. 
A  mass  of  pemican  simmered  in  the  lid  in  front  of  it. 
Three  pannikins  of  tea  reposed  on  the  green  branches, 
their  refreshing  contents  sendhig  up  little  clouds  of  steam, 
while  the  ptarmigan,  now  split  up,  skewered,  and  roasted, 


200 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


were    being    heartily   devoured   by  our    thice    hungiy 
friends. 

Tlic  pleasures  that  full  to  the  lot  of  man  are  transient. 
Doubtless  they  are  numerous  and  oft  recurring, — still  they 
arc  transient,  and  so — supper  came  to  an  end. 

"Nowfor  a  pipe,"  said  the  accountant,  disjHDsing  his  limbs 
at  full  length  on  a  gi*een  blanket.  "O  thou  precious 
weed,  what  should  we  do  without  thee  ! " 

"  Smoke  tea,  to  bo  sure,"  answered  Hany. 

"  Ah !  true,  it  is  possible  to  exist  on  a  pipe  of  tea- 
leaves  for  a  time,  but  onl)/  for  a  time.  I  tried  it  myself 
once,  in  desperation,  when  I  ran  short  of  tobacco  on  a 
journey,  and  found  it  execrable,  but  better  than  nothing." 

''Pity  we  can't  join  you  in  that,"  remarked  Harry. 

"  Tnie,  but  perhaps  since  you  cannot  pipe,  it  might  prove 
an  agreeable  diversification  to  dance." 

"  Thank  you,  I'd  rather  not,"  saiii  Harry ;  "  and  as  for 
Hamilton,  I'm  convinced  that  his  mind  is  made  up  on  the 
subject.     How  go  the  heels  now  ? " 

"Thank  you,  pretty  well,"  he  replied,  reclining  his 
head  on  the  pine  branches,  and  extending  his  smitten 
members  towards  the  fire.  "  I  think  they  will  be  quite 
well  in  the  morning." 

"  It  is  a  curious  thing,"  remarked  the  accountant,  in  a 
soliloquising  tone,  "  that  sofl  fellows  never  smoke  ! " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Harry ;  "  I've  often  seen  hot 
loaves  smoke,  and  they're  soft  enough  fellows,  in  all 
conscience ! " 

"  Ah ! "  sighed  the  accountant,  "  that  reminds  me  of 
poor  Peterkin,  who  was  so  soft  that  he  went  by  the  nanie 
of  '  Butter.'  Did  you  ever  hear  of  what  he  did  the  sum- 
mer before  last  with  an  Indian's  head  1 " 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


2GI 


"  No,  never ;  Avliat  was  it  ] " 

"  I'll  tell  you  the  story,"  replied  the  accountant,  drawing 
a  few  vigorous  whiffs  of  smoke,  to  prevent  his  pipe  going 
(•lit  whJe  he  spoke. 

As  the  story  in  question,  however,  depicts  a  new  phasu 
of  society  in  the  woods,  it  deserves  a  chapter  to  itself. 


2(1-' 


SXOWFLAKIIS  AND  SUiNUi:AM8 


CHArTKPt  XX. 


The  arcountimt's  at'.ry. 


"  Spbinq  had  passed  away ;  and  York  Fort  was  filled 
mth  all  the  bustle  and  activity  of  suiumer.  Brigades 
came  pouring  in  upon  us  with  furs  from  the  interior,  and 
aa  every  boat  brought  a  C.  T.  or  a  clerk,  our  mess-tablo 
began  to  overflow. 

"  You've  not  seen  the  summer  mess-room  filled  yet, 
Hamilton.     That's  a  treat  in  store  for  you." 

"  It  was  pretty  full  last  autumn,  I  think,"  suggested 
Hamilton,  "  at  the  time  I  arrived  from  England." 

"  Full !  why,  man,  it  was  getting  to  feel  quite  lonely  at 
that  time.  I've  seen  more  than  fifty  sit  down  to  tabic 
there,  and  it  was  worth  going  fifty  miles  to  hear  the  row 
they  kicked  up.  Telling  stories  without  .end  (and  some- 
times without  foundation)  about  their  wild  doings  in  the 
interior,  where  every  man-jack  of  them  having  spent  at 
least  eight  months  almost  in  perfect  solitude,  they  hadu't 
had  a  chance  of  letting  their  tongues  go  till  they  cauie 
down  here.  But  to  proceed.  When  the  ship  came  out 
in  the  fall,  she  brought  a  batch  of  new  clerks,  and  among 
them  was  this  miserable  chap  Peterkin,  whom  we  soon 
nicknamed  Butter.  He  was  the  softest  fellow  I  ever 
knew,  (far  worse  than  you,  Hamilton),  and  he  hadn't  been 
here  a  weok  before  the  wild  blades  from  the  interior,  who 


FUUM  THE  FAR  NOUTII. 


2G3 


(> 


wcro  bursting  with  fun  and  niiscliiuf,  bcgiui  to  play  tdV  all 
kiiuls  of  practical  jokes  upcjii  him.  The  very  fii-st  clay  ho 
sat  down  at  the  iness-tablc,  our  worthy  governor  (wlio, 
you  are  awaro,  detesta  practical  jokes)  played  him  a  trick, 
(|uito  unintentionally,  which  raised  a  laugh  against  him 
lor  many  a  day.  You  knoM'  that  old  Mr  Kogan  is  ratln-r 
absent  at  times  ;  well,  the  first  day  that  I'ctcrkiu  came  t 
mess  (it  was  breakfast),  the  old  governor  asked  him,  in  a 
]);itronlsing  sort  of  way,  to  sit  at  his  right  hand.  Accord- 
ingly, down  ho  sat,  and  Laving  never,  I  fancy,  been  away 
tVom  his  mother's  apron-string  before,  he  seemed  t<j  feci 
Nory  uncomfortable,  especially  as  he  was  regarded  as  a 
sort  of  novelty.  The  first  thing  he  did  was  to  capsize  his 
|)liite  into  his  lap,  which  set  the  youngstere  at  the  lower 
tiiul  of  the  table  into  suppressed  fits  of  laughter.  How- 
ever, he  was  eating  the  leg  of  a  dry  grouse  at  the  time,  so 
it  didn't  make  much  of  a  mess. 

"  *  Try  some  fish,  Peterkin,'  said  Mr  Kogan,  kindly, 
seeing  that  the  youth  was  ill  at  ease.  *  That  old  grouse 
is  tough  enoucfh  to  break  vour  knife.' 

" '  A  very  rough  passage,'  replied  the  youngster,  whose 
niiud  was  quite  confused  by  hearing  the  captain  of  the 
ship,  who  sat  next  to  him,  giving  to  his  next  neighbour  a 
giaphic  account  of  the  voyage  in  a  very  loud  key — •  I 
mean,  if  you  please,  no,  thank  you,'  he  stammered,  endea* 
vouring  to  correct  himself. 

"  'All !  a  cup  of  tea,  perhaps.  Here,  Andei'son,'(turuin,i,' 
to  the  butler)  *a  cup  of  tea  to  Mr  Peterkin.' 

"  The  butler  obeyed  the  order. 

"  *  And,  here,  fill  my  cup,'  said  old  Rogan,  interrupt- 
ing himself  in  an  earnest  conversation,  into  wluch  he  had 
jtlunged  with  the  gentleman  on  his   left  hand.      As  he 


204 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBLAMS 


said  this,  lie  lifted  his  cup  to  empty  the  slops,  but  with- 
out paying  attention  to  what  he  was  doing.  As  luck 
would  have  it,  the  slop-basin  was  not  at  hand,  and 
Peterkin's  cup  was,  so  he  emptied  it  innocently  into  that. 
Peterkin  hadn't  courage  to  arrest  his  hand ;  and  when 
the  deed  was  done,  he  looked  timidly  round  to  see  if  the 
action  had  been  observed.  Nearly  half  the  table  had 
seen  it,  but  they  pretended  ignorance  of  the  thing  so 
well,  that  he  thought  no  one  had  observed,  and  so  went 
quietly  on  with  his  breakfast,  and  drank  the  tea !  But 
T  am  wandering  from  my  story.  Well,  about  this  time 
there  was  a  young  Indian  who  shot  himself  accidentally 
in  the  woods,  and  was  brought  to  the  fort  to  see  if  any- 
thing could  be  done  for  him.  Tho  doctor  examined  his 
wound,  and  found  that  the  ball  had  passed  through  the 
upper  part  of  his  right  arm,  and  the  middle  of  his  right 
thigh,  breaking  the  bone  of  the  latter  in  its  passage.  It 
was  an  extraordinary  shot  for  a  man  to  put  into  himself, 
for  it  would  have  been  next  to  impossible  even  for 
another  man  to  have  done  it,  unless  the  Indian  had  been 
creeping  on  all  fours.  When  he  was  able  to  speak,  how- 
ever, he  explained  the  mystery.  While  running  through 
a  rough  part  of  the  wood  after  a  wounded  bird,  he 
stumbled,  and  fell  on  all  fours.  The  gun,  which  he  was 
Currying  over  his  shoulder,  holding  it,  as  the  Indians 
usually  do,  by  the  muzzle,  flew  forward,  and  turned 
right  round  as  he  fell,  so  that  the  mouth  of  it  was  pre- 
sented towards  him.  Striking  against  the  stem  of  a  tree, 
it  exploded,  and  shot  him  tlirough  the  arm  and  leg,  as 
described,  ere  he  had  time  to  rise.  A  comrade  carried 
him  to  liis  lodge,  and  his  wife  brought  him  in  a  canoe  to 
the  fort.     For  three  or  four  days  the  doctor  had  hopes  of 


n 


l.i 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


265 


liim,  but  at  last  he  began  to  sink,  and  died  on  the  sixtii 
day  after  his  arrival.  His  wife,  and  one  or  two  fiiends, 
buried  him  in  our  graveyard,  which  lies,  as  you  know, 
on  that  lonely-looking  point  just  below  the  powder  maga- 
zine. For  several  months  previous  to  this,  our  worthy 
doctor  had  been  making  strenuous  efforts  to  get  an  Indian 
skull  to  send  home  to  one  of  his  medical  friends,  but 
without  success.  The  Indians  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  cut  off  the  head  of  one  of  their  dead  countrymen 
for  love  or  money,  and  the  doctor  had  a  dislike  to  the 
idea  (I  suppose)  of  killing  one  for  himself;  but  now,  here 
was  a  golden  opportunity.  The  Indian  was  buried  near 
to  the  fort,  and  his  relatives  had  gone  away  to  their 
tents  again.  What  was  to  prevent  his  being  dug  up? 
The  doctor  brooded  over  the  thing  for  one  hour  and  a 
half  (being  exactly  the  length  of  time  required  to  smoko 
out  his  large  Turkey  pipe),  and  then  sauntered  into 
Wilson's  room.  Wilson  was  busy,  as  usual,  at  some  of 
his  mechanical  contrivances. 

"  Thrusting  his  hands  deep  into  his  breeches -pockets, 
and  seating  himself  on  an  old  sea-chest,  he  began — 

" '  I  say,  Wilson,  will  you  do  me  a  favour  V 

"  '  That  depends  entirely  on  what  the  favour  is,'  he 
replied,  without  raising  his  head  from  his  work. 

"  '  I  want  you  to  help  me  to  cut  off  an  Indian's  head  !' 

"  *  Then  I  won't  do  you  the  favour  3  but,  pray,  don't 
humbug  me  just  now,  I'm  busy.' 

"  '  No;  but  I'm  serious,  and  I  can't  get  it  done  without 
help,  and  I  know  you're  an  obliging  fellow.  Besides,  the 
savage  is  dead,  and  has  no  manner  of  use  for  his  head  now.* 

"  Wilson  turned  round  with  a  look  of  intelligence  on 
hearing  this. 

18 


ii 


266 


SNOWFLAKES  /LSD  SUNBEAMS 


« 


'  Ha  !'  ho  exclaimed,  *  I  see  what  you're  up  to  ', 
but  I  don't  half  like  it.  In  the  first  place,  his  friends 
would  be  terribly  cut  up  if  they  heard  of  it ;  and  then, 
I've  no  sort  of  aptitude  for  the  work  of  a  resurrectionist ; 
and  then,  if  it  got  wind,  we  should  never  hear  the  last  of 
it ;  and  then * 

" '  And  then,'  interrupted  the  doctor,  '  it  would  be 
adding  to  the  light  of  medical  science,  you  unaspiiing 
monster.' 

"  *  A  light,'  retorted  Wilson,  *  which,  in  passing 
through  some  members  of  the  medical  profession,  is  totally 
absorbed,  and  reproduced  in  the  shape  of  impenetrable 
darkness.' 

" '  Now,  don't  object,  my  dear  fellow ;  you  hnoiv  you're 
going  to  do  it,  so  don't  coquette  with  me,  but  agree  at 
once.' 

"  *  Well,  I  consent,  upon  one  condition.' 

"'And  what  is  that?'  . 

"  *  That  you  do  not  play  any  practical  jokes  on  me  with 
the  head  when  you  have  got  it.' 

"  *  Agreed !'  cried  the  doctor,  laughing ;  *  I  give  you  my 
word  of  honour.  No  7,  he  has  been  buried  three  days 
already,  so  we  must  set  about  it  at  once.  Fortunately  the 
graveyard  is  composed  of  a  sandy  soil,  so  he'll  keep  for 
some  time  yet.' 

"  The  two  worthies  then  entered  into  a  deep  consultation 
as  to  how  they  were  to  set  about  this  deed  of  darkness. 
It  was  arranged  that  Wilson  should  take  his  gun,  and 
sally  forth  a  little  before  dark,  as  if  he  were  bent  on  an 
hour's  sport,  and,  not  forgetting  his  game-bag,  proceed  to 
the  graveyard,  where  the  doctor  engaged  to  meet  him 
with  a  couple  of  spades  and  a  dark  lantern.     Accordingly, 


n 


FROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


267 


next  evening,  Mr  "Wilson,  true  to  his  promise,  shouldered 
his  gun,  and  sallied  forth. 

"  It  soon  become  an  intensely  dark  night.  Not  a  single 
star  shone  forth  to  illumine  the  track  along  which  he 
stumbled.  Everything  around  was  silent  and  dark,  and 
congenial  with  the  work  on  which  he  was  bent.  But 
Wilson's  heart  beat  a  little  more  rapidly  than  usual.  He  is 
a  bold  enough  man,  as  you  know,  but  boldness  goes  for 
nothing  when  superstition  comes  into  play.  However,  he 
trudged  along  fearlessly  enough  till  he  came  to  the  thick 
woods  just  below  the  fort,  into  which  he  entered  with  some- 
thing of  a  qualm.  Scarcely  had  he  set  foot  on  the  narrow 
track  that  leads  to  the  graveyard,  when  he  ran  slap  against 
the  post  that  stands  there,  but  which,  in  his  trepidation, 
he  had  entirely  forgotten.  This  quite  upset  the  small 
amount  of  courage  that  remained,  and  he  has  since  con- 
fessed that  if  he  had  not  had  the  hope  of  meeting  with  the 
doctor  in  a  few  minutes,  he  would  have  turned  round  and 
fled  at  that  moment. 

"Recovering  a  little  from  this  accident,  he  hurried 
forward,  but  with  more  caution,  for,  although  the  night 
seemed  as  dark  as  could  possibly  be  while  he  was  crossing 
the  open  country,  it  became  speedily  evident  that  there 
were  several  shades  of  darkness  which  he  had  not  yet  con- 
ceived. In  a  few  minutes  he  came  to  the  creek  that  runs 
past  the  graveyard,  and  here  again  hLs  nerves  got  another 
shake,  for,  slipping  his  foot  whUe  in  the  act  of  com- 
mencing the  descent,  he  fell  and  rolled  heavily  to  the 
bottom,  making  noise  enough  in  his  fall  to  scare  away 
flll  the  ghosts  in  the  country.  With  a  palpitating  heaii;, 
poor  Wilson  gathered  himself  up,  and  searched  for  his 
gun,  which  fortunately  liad  not  been  iiyured,  and  then 


268 


SX0WFLAKE8  AND  SUNBEAMS 


commenced  to  climb  the  opposite  bank,  starting  at  every 
twig  that  snapped  under  his  feet.  On  reaching  the  level 
ground  again,  he  breathed  a  little  more  freely,  and  hurried 
fonvard  with  more  speed  than  caution.  Suddenly  he  came 
into  violent  contact  with  a  figure,  which  uttered  a  loud 
g^owl  as  Wilson  reeled  backwards. 

"  *  Back,  you  monster,'  he  cried,  with  a  hysterical  yell, 
*  or  I'll  blow  your  brains  out.' 

"  *  It's  little  good  that  would  do  ye,*  cried  the  doctor,  as 
he  came  foi'wai'd ;  '  why,  what  the  deuce  did  you  take  me 
for  ?  You've  nearly  knocked  out  my  brains  as  it  is/  and 
the  doctor  rubbed  his  forehead  ruefully. 

"  *  Oh  !  it's  you,  doctor,'  said  Wilson,  feeling  as  if  a  ton 
weight  had  been  lifted  off  his  heart ;  *  I  verily  thought  it 
was  the  ghost  of  the  poor  fellow  we're  going  to  disturb. 
I  do  think  you  had  better  give  it  up.  Mischief  will  come 
of  it,  you'll  see.' 

"  *  Nonsense,'  cried  the  doctor,  *  don't  be  a  goose,  but 
let's  to  work  at  once.  Why,  I've  got  half  the  thing  dug 
up  already.'  So  saying,  he  led  the  way  to  the  grave,  in 
which  there  was  a  large  opening.  Setting  the  lantern 
down  by  the  side  of  it,  the  two  seized  their  spades  and 
began  to  dig  as  if  in  earnest. 

"  The  fact  is  that  the  doctor  was  nearly  as  frightened  as 
Wilson,  and  he  afterwards  confessed  to  me  that  it  was 
an  immense  relief  to  him  when  he  heard  him  fall  down  the 
bank  of  the  creek,  and  knew  by  the  growl  he  gave  that 
it  was  he. 

"  In  about  half  an  hour  the  doctor's  spade  struck  upon 
the  coffin  lid,  which  gave  forth  a  hollow  sound. 

'*  *  Now  then,  we're  about  done  with  it,'  said  he,  stand- 
ing up  to  wipe  away  the  perspiration  tliat  trickled  do^vll 


I.t 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


2G9 


bis  face.     *  Take  the  axe  and  force  up  the  lid,  it's  only 

fixed  with  common  nails,  while  I *    He  did  not  finish 

the  sentence,  but  drew  a  large  scalping-knife  from  a  sheath 
which  hung  at  his  belt. 

""Wilson  shuddered  and  obeyed.  A  good  wrench 
caused  the  lid  to  start,  and  while  he  held  it  partially  open, 
the  doctor  inserted  the  knife.  For  five  minutes  he  con- 
tinued to  twist  and  work  his  arms,  muttering  between 
his  teeth,  every  now  and  then,  that  he  was  a  *  tough 
subject,'  while  the  crackling  of  bones  and  other  disagree- 
able sounds  struck  upon  the  horrified  ears  of  his  com- 
panion. 

"  *  All  right,'  he  exclaimed  at  last,  as  he  dragged  a 
round  object  from  the  coffin  and  let  down  the  lid  with  a 
bang,  at  the  same  time  placing  the  savage's  head  with  its 
ghastly  features  full  in  the  blaze  of  the  lantern. 

"  *  Now,  then,  close  up,'  said  he,  jumping  out  of  the 
hole,  and  shovelling  in  the  earth. 

"In  a  few  minutes  they  had  filled  the  grave  up  and 
smoothed  it  down  on  the  surface,  and  then,  throwing  the 
head  into  the  game-bag,  retraced  their  steps  to  the  fort. 
Their  nerves  were  by  this  time  worked  up  to  such  a  pitch 
of  excitement,  and  their  minds  filled  with  such  a  degree 
of  supernatural  horror,  that  they  tripped  and  stumbled 
over  stumps  and  branches  innumerable  in  their  double- 
quick  march.  Neither  would  confess  to  the  other,  how- 
ever, that  he  was  afraid.  They  even  attempted  to  pass  a 
few  facetious  remarks  as  they  hurried  along,  but  it  would 
not  do,  so  they  relapsed  into  silence  till  they  came  to  the 
liollow  beside  the  powder-magazine.  Here  the  doctor's 
foot  happening  to  slip,  he  suddenly  grasped  Wilson  by  the 
slioulder,  to  support  himself — a  movement  which,  being 


270 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS. 


unexpected,  made  his  friend  leap,  as  he  afterwards  expressed 
it,  nearly  out  of  his  skin.  This  was  almost  too  much  for 
them.  For  a  moment  they  looked  at  each  other  as  "well 
as  the  darkness  would  permit,  when  all  at  once  a  large 
stone,  which  the  doctor's  shp  had  overbalanced,  fell  down 
the  bank  and  through  the  bushes  with  a  loud  crash.  No- 
thing more  was  wanting.  All  further  effort  to  disguise 
their  feelings  was  dropped.  Leaping  the  rail  of  the  open 
field  in  a  twinkling,  they  gave  a  simultaneous  yeU  of  con- 
sternation and  fled  to  the  fort  like  autumn  leaves  before 
the  wind,  never  drawing  breath  till  they  were  safe  within 
the  pickets." 

"  But  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  Peterkin  ? "  asked 
Hapy,  as  the  accountant  paused  to  re-light  his  pipe  and 
toss  a  fresh  log  on  the  fire. 

"  Have  patience,  lad ;  you  shall  hear." 

The  accountant  stirred  the  logs  with  his  toe,  drew  a  few 
whifis  to  see  that  the  pipe  was  properly  ignited,  and  pro- 
ceeded. 

"  For  a  day  or  two  after  tliis,  the  doctor  was  observed 
to  be  often  mysteriously  engaged  in  an  outhouse,  of  which 
he  kept  the  key.  By  some  means  or  other,  thb  skipper, 
who  is  always  up  to  mischief,  managed  to  discover  the 
secret.  Watching  where  the  doctor  hid  the  key,  he  pos- 
sessed himself  of  it  one  day,  and  sallied  forth,  bent  on  a 
lark  of  some  kind  or  other,  but  without  very  well  knowing 
what.  Passing  the  kitchen,  he  observed  Anderson,  the 
butler,  raking  the  fire  out  of  the  large  oven  which  stands 
in  the  back-yard. 

"  '  Baking  again,  Anderson  1 '  said  he  in  passing.  '  You 
get  soon  through  with  a  heavy  cargo  of  bread,  just 
now.' 


1:1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


271 


"  *  Yes,  sir ;  many  mouths  to  feed,  sir,'  replied  the 
butler,  proceeding  with  his  work. 

"  The  skipper  sauntered  on,  and  took  the  track  which 
leads  to  the  boat-house,  where  he  stood  for  some  time  in 
meditation.  Casting  up  his  eyes,  he  saw  Peterkin  in  the 
distance,  looking  aa  if  he  didn't  very  well  know  what 
to  do. 

"  A  sudden  thought  struck  him.  Pulling  off  his  coat, 
he  seized  a  mallet  and  a  caulking-chisel,  and  began  to 
belabour  the  sioe  of  a  boat,  as  if  his  life  depended  on  it. 
All  at  once  he  stopped  and  stood  up,  blowing  witn  the 
exertion. 

"  *  Hallo,  Peterkin  ! '  he  shouted,  and  waved  his  hand. 

"  Peterldn  hastened  towards  him. 

"  '  Well,  sir,'  said  he,  *  do  you  wish  to  speak  to  me  ? ' 

"  *  Yes,'  replied  the  skipper,  scratching  his  head,  as  if 
in  great  perplexity.  *  I  wish  you  to  do  me  a  favour, 
Peterkin,  but  I  don't  know  very  well  how  to  ask  you.' 

"  *  Oh,  I  shall  be  most  happy,'  said  poor  J3utter,  eagerly, 
*  if  I  can  be  of  any  use  to  you.' 

"  *  I  don't  doubt  your  willingness,'  replied  the  other  ; 
'  but  then — ^the  doctor,  you  see — ^the  fact  is,  Peterkin, 
the  doctor  being  called  away  to  see  a  sick  Indian,  has 
intrusted  me  with  a  delicate  piece  of  business — rather  a 
nasty  piece  of  business,  I  may  say — ^which  I  promised  to 
do  for  him.  You  must  know  that  the  Surgical  Society  of 
London  has  written  to  him,  begging,  as  a  gi'eat  favour, 
that  he  would,  if  possible,  procure  them  the  skull  of  a 
native.  After  much  trouble  he  has  succeeded  in  getting 
one,  but  is  obliged  to  keep  it  a  great  secret,  even  from  his 
fellow-clerks,  lest  it  should  get  wind ;  for  if  the  Indians 
heard  of  it,  they  would  be  sure  to  kill  hira,  and  perhaps 


'*  I 


272 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


bum  the  fort  too.  Now,  I  suppose  you  are  aware  that  it 
is  necessary  to  boil  an  Indian's  head,  in  order  to  get  the 
flesh  clean  off  the  skull  1 ' 

"  *  Yes,  I  have  heard  something  of  that  sort  from  the 
students  at  college,  who  say  that  boiling  brings  flesh  more 
easily  away  from  the  bone;  but  I  don't  know  much  about 
it,'  replied  Peterkin. 

"  *  "Well,*  continued  the  skipper,  *  the  doctor,  who  is 
fond  of  experiments,  wishes  to  try  whether  baking  won't 
do  better  than  boiling,  and  ordered  the  oven  to  be  heated 
for  that  purpose  this  morning ;  but  being  called  suddenly 
away,  as  I  have  said,  he  begged  me  to  put  tlie  head  into 
it  as  soon  as  it  was  ready.  I  agreed,  quite  forgetting  at 
the  time  that  I  had  to  get  this  precious  boat  ready  for  sea 
this  very  afternoon.  Now,  the  oven  is  prepared  and  1 
dare  not  leave  my  work ;  indeed,  I  doubt  whether  I  shall 
have  it  quite  ready  and  taut  after  all,  and  there's  the  oven 
cooling ;  so,  if  you  don't  help  me,  I'm  a  lost  man.' 

"  Having  said  this,  the  skipper  looked  as  miserable  as 
his  jolly  visage  woidd  permit,  and  rubbed  his  nose. 

"  *  Oh,  I'll  be  happy  to  do  it  for  you,  although  it  is  not 
an  agreeable  job,'  replied  Butter. 

"  *  That's  right — ^that's  friendly  now  ! '  exclaimed  the 
skipper,  as  if  greatly  relieved.  *  Give  us  your  flipper,  my 
lad ; '  and  seizing  Peterkin's  hand,  he  wi-ung  it  affection- 
ately. *  Now,  here  is  the  key  of  the  outhouse ;  do  it  as 
quickly  as  you  can,  and  don't  let  any  one  see  you.  It's 
in  a  good  cause,  you  know ;  but  the  results  might  be  ter- 
rible, if  discovered.' 

"  ko   saying,  the   skipper  fell  to  hammering  the  boat 

again  with  surprising  vigour  till  Butter  was  out  of  sight, 
and  then,  resuming  his  coat,  returned  to  the  house. 


1,1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


273 


**  An  hour  after  this,  Anderson  went  to  take  his  loaves 
out  of  the  oven ;  but  he  had  no  sooner  taken  down  the 
door  than  a  rich  odour  of  cooked  meat  greeted  his  nostrils. 
Uttering  a  deep  growl,  the  butler  shouted  out — '  Sprat ! ' 

"  Upon  this,  a  very  thin  boy,  with  arms  and  legs  like 
pipe  stems,  issued  from  the  kitchen,  and  came  timidly 
towards  his  master. 

"  *  Didn't  I  tell  you,  you  young  blackguard,  that  the 
grouse-pie  was  to  be  kept  for  Simday,  and  there  you've 
gone  and  put  it  to  fire  to-day.' 

"  *  The  grouse-pie  !'  said  the  boy,  in  amazement. ' 

"  '  Yes,  the  grouse-pie,'  retorted  the  indignant  butler ; 
and  seizing  the  urchin  by  the  neck,  he  held  his  head 
down  to  the  mouth  of  the  oven. 

"  *  Smell  thatf  you  villain  !  What  did  you  mean  by  it  1 
ehr 

"*0h,  murder!'  shouted  the  boy,  as,  with  a  violent 
effort,  he  freed  himself,  and  ran  shrieking  into  the 
house. 

"  *  Murder  !'  repeated  Anderson,  in  astonishment, 
while  he  stooped  to  look  into  the  oven,  where  the  first 
thing  that  met  his  gaze  was  a  human  head,  whose  ghastly 
visage,  and  staring  eyeballs,  worked  and  moved  about 
imder  the  influence  of  the  heat  as  if  it  were  alive. 

"  With  a  yell  that  rung  through  the  whole  fort,  the 
horrified  butler  rushed  through  the  kitchen,  and  out  at 
the  front  door,  where,  as  ill-luck  would  have  it,  Mr  Rogan 
happened  to  be  standing  at  the  moment.  Pitching  head 
first  into  the  small  of  the  old  gentleman's  back,  he  threw 
him  off  the  platform,  and  fell  into  his  arms.  Starting  up 
in  a  moment,  the  governor  dealt  Anderson  a  cuff  that 
sent  him  reeling  towards  the  kitchen  door  again,  on  the 


274 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


steps  of  which  he  sat  down,  and  began  to  sing  out,  '  Oh  ! 
mUrder,  murder !  tho  ovon,  the  oven  1'  and  not  another 
word,  bad,  good,  or  indifferent,  could  be  got  out  of  hiin 
for  the  next  half-hour,  as  he  swayed  himself  to  and  fro, 
and  wrung  his  hands. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  Mr  Rogan  went  himself 
to  the  oven,  and  fished  out  the  head,  along  with  the 
loaves,  which  were,  of  course,  all  spoiled." 

"  And  what  was  the  result  1"  inquired  Harry. 

"  Oh  !  there  was  a  long  investigation,  and  the  skipper 
got  a  blowing-up,  and  the  doctor  a  warning  to  let  Indian's 
skulls  lie  at  peace  in  their  graves  for  the  future,  and  poor 
Butter  waa  sent  to  M'Kenzie's  River  as  a  punishment, 
for  did  Kogan  could  never  be  brought  to  believe  that  he 
hadn't  been  a  willing  tool  in  the  skipper's  hands ;  and 
Anderson  lost  his  batch  of  bread  and  his  oven,  for  it  had 
to  be  pulled  down,  and  a  new  one  built." 

"  Humph. !  and  I've  no  doubt  the  governor  read  you  a 
pretty  stiff  lecture  on  practical  joking." 

"He  did,"  replied  the  accountant,  laying  aside  his 
pipe,  and  drawing  the  green  blanket  over  him,  while 
Harry  piled  several  large  logs  on  the  fire. 

"  Good  night,"  said  the  accountant. 

"  Good  night,"  replied  his  companions ;  and  in  a  few 
minutes  more  they  were  sound  asleep  in  their  snowy 
camp,  while  the  huge  fire  continued,  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  night,  to  cast  its  light  on  their  slumbering 
forms. 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


274 


1./ 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Ptarmigan  hunting ;  Hamilton's  shooting  powers  severely  tested ; 

a  snow-storm. 


At  about  four  o'clock  on  the  following  morning,  the 
sleepers  were  awakened  by  the  cold,  which  had  become 
very  intense.  The  fire  had  burned  down  to  a  few  embers, 
which  merely  emitted  enough  light  to  make  darkness 
visible.  Harry,  being  the  most  active  of  the  party,  was 
the  first  to  bestir  himself.  Raising  himself  on  his 
elbow,  while  his  teeth  chattered,  and  his  limbs  trembled 
with  cold,  he  cast  a  wobegone  and  excessively  sleepy 
glance  towards  the  place  where  the  fire  had  been ; 
then  he  scratched  his  head  slowly ;  then  he  stared  at  the 
fire  again ;  then  he  languidly  glanced  at  Hamilton's 
sleeping  visage ;  and  then  he  yawned.  The  accountant 
observed  all  this  j  for  although  he  appeared  to  be  buried 
in  the  depths  of  slumber,  he  was  wide  awake  in  reality, 
and,  moreover,  intensely  cold.  The  accountant,  however, 
was  sly — deep^as  he  would  have  said  himself,  and  knew 
that  Harry's  active  habits  would  induce  him  to  rise,  on 
awaiting,  and  re-kindle  the  fire, — an  event  which  the  ac- 
countant earnestly  desired  to  see  accomplished,  but  which 
he  as  earnestly  resolved  should  not  be  performed  by  him. 
Indeed,  it  was  with  this  end  in  view  that  he  had  given 
vent  to  the  terrific  snore  which  had  aroused  his  young 


27C 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS. 


companion  a  little  sooner  than  would  have  othcrwiiie  been 
the  case. 

"  My  eye,"  exclaimed  Harry,  in  an  undertone,  "  how 
precious  cold  it  is  ! " 

His  eye  making  no  reply  to  this  remark,  he  arose,  and, 
going  doAMi  on  his  hands  and  knees,  began  to  coax  the 
charcoal  into  a  flame.  By  dint  of  severe  blowing,  ho  soon 
succeeded,  and,  heaping  on  a  quantity  of  small  twigs,  the 
fitful  flame  sprang  up  into  a  steady  blaze.  He  then  threw 
several  heavy  logs  on  the  fire,  and  in  a  very  short  space  of 
time  restored  it  almost  to  its  original  vigour. 

"  What  an  abominable  row  you  are  kicking  up,"  growled 
the  accountant;  "why,  you  would  waken  the  seven 
sleepers.  Oh !  mending  the  fire,"  he  added,  in  an  altered 
tone ;  "  ah !  I'll  excuse  you  my  boy,  since  that's  what  you're 
at." 

The  accountant  hereupon  got  up,  along  with  Hamilton, 

who  was  now  also  awake,  and  the  three  spread  their 
hands  over  the  bright  fire,  and  revolved  their  bodies 
before  it,  until  they  imbibed  a  satisfactory  amount  of 
heat.  They  were  much  too  sleepy  to  converse,  however, 
and  contented  themselves  with  a  very  brief  inquiry  as  to 
the  state  of  Hamilton's  heels,  which  elicited  the  sleepy 
reply,  "They  feel  quite  well,  thank  you."  In  a  short 
time,  having  become  agreeably  warm,  they  gave  a  simul- 
taneous yawn,  and,  lying  down  again,  fell  into  a  sleep, 
from  which  they  did  not  awaken  until  the  red  winter  sun 
shot  its  early  rays  over  the  arctic  scenery. 

Once  more  Harry  sprang  up,  and  let  his  hand  fall 
heavily  on  Hamilton's  shoulder.  Thus  rudely  assailed, 
that  youth  also  sprang  up,  giving  a  shout,  at  the  same 
time,  that  brought   the  accountant  to  his  feet   in  an 


FROM  HIE  FAR  HORTfl. 


277 


inatant ;  and  so,  as  if  b^  in  electric  (spark,  the  slcepew 
were  simultaneously  roused  into  a  state  of  wide-awako 
uotivity. 

"  How  excessively  hungry  I  feel  j  isn't  it  strange  1  '* 
said  Hamilton,  as  ho  assisted  in  re-kindling  the  fire,  while 
the  accountant  filled  his  pipe,  and  HaiTy  stuffed  the  tea- 
kettle full  of  snow. 

"  Strange  I "  cried  Harry,  an  he  placed  the  kettle  on 
the  fire — "  strange  !  to  be  hungry  after  a  five  miles'  walk, 
and  a  night  in  the  snow  1  I  would  rather  say  it  was 
strange  if  yon  were  not  hungry.  Throw  on  that  billet, 
like  a  good  fellow,  and  spit  those  grouse,  while  I  cut  some 
pemican  and  prepare  the  tea," 

"How  are  the  heels  now,  Hamilton ?"  asked  the 
accountant,  who  divided  his  attention  between  his  pipe 
and  his  snow-shoes,  the  lines  of  which  required  to  be  re- 
adjusted. 

"  They  appear  to  be  as  well  as  if  nothing  had  happened 
to  them,"  replied  Hamilton  ;  "  I've  been  looking  at  them, 
and  there  is  no  mark  whatever.  They  do  not  even  feel 
tender." 

"  Lucky  for  you,  old  boy,  that  they  were  tal  in  time, 
else  you'd  have  had  another  story  to  tell." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  people's  heels  really  freeze 
and  fall  off?"  inquired  the  other,  with  a  look  of  incre- 
dulity. 

"  Soft,  very  soft,  and  green,"  murmured  Harry,  in  a 
low  voice,  while  he  continued  his  work  of  adding  fresh 
snow  to  the  kettle,  as  the  process  of  melting  reduced  its 
bulk. 

"  I  mean  to  say,"  replied  the  accountant,  tapping  the 
(«shes  out  of  his  pipe,  "  that  not  only  heeh,  but  hands, 


;:l 


r 

I 


i 


278 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


§ 


feet,  noses,  and  ears,  frequently  freeze,  and  often  fall  oflf 
in  this  country,  as  you  will  find  by  sad  experience,  if  you 
don't  look  after  yourself  a  little  better  than  you  have 
done  hitherto." 

One  of  the  evil  effects  of  the  perpetual  jesting  that  pre- 
vailed at  York  Fort  was,  that  "  soft "  (in  other  word&i, 
straightforward,  unsuspecting)  youths  had  to  undergo  a 
long  process  of  leaming-by-experience :  first,  believing 
everything,  and  then  doubting  everything,  ere  they  arrived 
at  that  degree  of  sophistication  which  enabled  them  to 
distinguish  between  truth  and  falsehood. 

Having  reached  the  doubting  period  in  his  training. 


o> 


Hamilton  looked  down  and  said  nothing,  at  least  with 
his  mouth,  though  his  eyes  evidently  remarked,  "  I  don't 
believe  you."  In  future  years,  however,  the  evidence  of 
these  same  eyes  convinced  him  that  what  the  accountant 
said  upon  this  occasion  was  but  too  true. 

Brt^akfast  was  a  repetition  of  the  supper  of  the  previous 
evening.  During  its  discussion  they  planned  proceedings 
for  the  day. 

"  My  notion  is,"  said  the  accountant,  intemipting  the 
flow  of  words  ever  and  anon  to  chew  the  morsel  with 
winch  his  mouth  was  filled,  "  my  notion  is,  that,  as  it's 
a  fine  clear  day,  we  should  travel  five  miles  through  the 
couuury  parallel  with  North  River.  I  know  the  ground, 
and  can  guide  you  easily  to  the  spots  where  there  are  lots 
of  willows,  and,  therefore,  plenty  of  ptarmigan,  seeing 
that  they  feed  on  willow  tops;  and  the  snow  that  fell  last 
.xight  will  help  us  a  little." 

"  How  will  the  snow  help  us  ?"  inquired  Hamilton. 

"By  covering  up  all  the  old  tracks,  to  be  sure,  and  shew- 
ing only  the  new  ones." 


w 


PKOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


279 


"  Well,  captain,"  said  Harry,  as  he  raised  a  can  of  tea 
to  his  lips,  and  nodded  to  Hamilton,  as  if  drinking  his 
health,  "  go  on  with  your  proposals  for  the  day.     Five 

miles  up  the  river  to  begin  with  then " 

"Tlien,    we'll    pnU    up,"   continued    the    accountant; 
"  make  a  fire,  rest  a  bit,  and  eat  a  mouthful  of  pemican ; 
after  which  we'll  strike  across  country  for  the  southern 
woodcutters'  track,  and  so  home." 
"  And  how  much  will  that  be  ] " 
"  About  fifteen  miles." 

"Ha!"  exclaimed  Hany;  "pass  the  kettle,  please. 
Thanks.     Do  you  think  you're  up  to  that,  Hammy '] " 

"  I  will  try  what  I  can  do,"  .replied  Hamilton.  "  If 
the  snow-shoes  don't  cause  me  to  fall  often,  I  think  I 
shall  stand  the  fatigue  very  well." 

"  That's  right,"  said  the  accountant ;  "  faint  heart,  &c., 
you  know.  If  you  go  on  as  you've  begun,  you'll  be 
chosen  to  head  the  next  expedition  to  the  north  pole." 

"  Well,"  replied  Hamilton,  good  -  humouredly,  "  pray 
head  the  present  expedition,  and  let  us  be  gone." 

"  Right !  "  ejaculated  the  accountant,  rising.  "  I'll 
just  put  my  odds  and  ends  out  of  the  reach  of  the  foxes, 
and  then  we  shall  be  ofi"." 

In  a  few  minutes  everything  was  placed  in  security, 
guns  loaded,  snow-shoes  put  on,  and  the  winter  camp 
deserted.  At  first  the  walking  was  fatiguing,  and  poor 
Hamilton  more  than  once  took  a  sudden  and  eccentric 
plunge ;  but,  after  getting  beyond  the  wooded  country, 
they  found  the  snow  much  more  compact,  and  their 
march,  therefore,  much  more  agreeable.  On  coming  to 
the  place  where  it  was  probable  that  they  might  fall  in 
with  ptarmigan,   Hamilton   became   rather   excited,  and 


280 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAM3 


apt  to  imagine  that  little  lumps  of  snow,  which  hung 
upon  the  bushes  here  and  there,  were  birds.      \ 

"  There  now,"  he  cried,  in  an  energetic  and  slightly 
positive  tone,  as  another  of  these  masses  of  snow  suddenly- 
met  his  eager  eye — "  that's  one,  I'm  quite  sure." 

The  accountant  and  Harry  both  stopped  short  on  hear- 
ing this,  and  looked  in  the  direction  indicated. 

"  Fire  away,  then,  Hammy,"  said  the  former,  endea- 
vouring to  suppress  a  smile. 

"  But  do  you  think  it  really  is  one  ? "  asked  Hamilton, 
anxiously. 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  it  exactly,  but  then,  you  know,  I'm 
near-sighted." 

^*  Don't  give  him  a  chance  of  escape,"  cried  Harry, 
seeing  that  his  friend  was  undecided.  "  If  you  really  do 
see  a  bii'd,  you'd  better  shoot  it,  for  they've  got  a  strong 
propensity  to  take  wing  when  disturbed." 

Thus  admonished,  Hamilton  raised  his  gun  and  took 
aim.  Suddenly  he  lowered  his  piece  again,  and  looking 
round  at  Harry,  said  in  a  low  whisper — 

"  Oh  !  I  should  like  so  much  to  shoot  it  while  flying. 
Would  it  not  be  better  to  set  it  up  first  ? " 

"  By  no  means,"  answered  the  accountant.  "  'A  bird  in 
the  hand,'  &c.  Take  him  as  you  find  him — look  sharp ;  he'll 
be  ofi"  in  a  second." 

Again  the  gun  was  pointed,  and,  after  some  difficulty 
in  taking  aim,  fired. 

"  Ah  !  what  a  pity  you've  missed  him,"  shouted  Harry; 
"  but  see,  he's  not  off  yet ;  how  tame  he  is,  to  be  sure; 
give  him  the  other  barrel,  Hammy." 

This  piece  of  advice  proved  to  be  unnecessary.  In  his 
anxiety  to  get  the  bird,  Hamilton  nad  cocked  both  barrels, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


281 


ch  Imng 

.  slightly 
suddenly 

;  on  hear- 

3r,  endea- 

Hamilton, 

know,  I'm 

ed  Harry, 
u  really  do 
ot  a  strong 

and  took 
md  looking 

hile  flying. 

|<<Abirdin 
sharp ;  he'll 

ye  difficulty 

ited  Harry; 
bo  be  sure; 

[ry.     In  his 

loth  barrels, 


and  while  gazing,  half  in  disappointment,  half  in  surprise, 
at  the  supposed  bird,  his  finger  unintentionally  pressed 
the  second  trigger.  In  a  moment  the  piece  exploded. 
Being  accidentally  aimed  in  the  right  direction,  it  blew 
the  lump  of  snow  to  atoms,  and  at  the  same  time  hitting 
its  owner  on  the  chest  with  the  butt,  knocked  him  over 
flat  upon  his  back. 

"  What  a  gun  it  is,  to  be  sure !  '*  said  Harry,  with  a 
roguish  laugh,  as  he  assisted  the  discomfited  sportsman  to 
rise  ;  "  it  knocks  over  game  with  butt  and  muzzle  at  once." 

"  Quite  a  rare  instance  of  one  butt  knocking  another 
dd^Ti,"  added  the  accountant. 

At  this  moment  a  large  flock  of  ptarmigan,  startled  by 
the  double  report,  rose  with  a  loud  whirring  noise  about 
a  hundred  yards  in  advance,  and  after  flying  a  shoi-t  dis- 
tance, alighted. 

"  There's  real  game  at  last,  though,"  cried  the  account- 
ant, as  he  hurried  after  the  birds,  followed  closely  by  his 
young  friends. 

They  soon  reached  the  spot  where  the  flock  had  alighted, 
and  after  following  up  the  tracks  for  a  few  yards  further, 
set  them  up  again.  As  the  birds  rose,  the  accountant 
fired  and  brought  down  two ;  Harry  shot  one  and  missed 
another,  Hamilton  being  so  nervously  interested  in  the 
success  of  his  comrades  that  he  forgot  to  fire  at  all. 

"How  stupid  of  me  !"  he  exclaimed,  while  the  others 
loaded  their  guns. 

"  Never  mind;  better  luck  next  time,"  said  Harry,  as 
they  resumed  their  walk.  "  I  saw  the  flock  settle  down 
about  half  a  mile  in  advance  of  us  ;  so  step  out." 

Another  short  walk  brought  the  sportsmen  again  within 
range. 

T. 


282 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


.    "  Go  to  the  front,  Hammy,"  said  the  accountant,  "and 
take  the  first  shot  this  time." 

Hamilton  obeyed.  He  had  scarcely  made  ten  steps  in 
advance,  when  a  single  bird,  that  seemed  to  have  been 
separated  from  the  others,  ran  suddenly  out  from  under 
a  bush,  and  stood  stock  still,  at  a  distance  of  a  few  yards, 
with  its  neck  stretched  out  and  its  black  eye  wide  open, 
as  if  in  astonishment. 

"  Now,  then,  you  can't  miss  that."" 

Hamilton  was  quite  taken  aback  by  the  suddenness  of 
this  necessity  for  instantaneous  action.  Instead,  therefore, 
of  taking  aim  leisurely,  (seeing  that  he  had  abundant  time 
tq  do  so,)  he  flew  entirely  to  the  opposite  extreme,  took 
no  aim  at  all,  and  fired  off  both  barrels  at  once,  without 
putting  the  gun  to  his  shoulder.  The  result  of  this  was 
that  the  affrighted  bird  flew  away  unharmed,  while 
Harry  and  the  accountant  burst  spontaneously  into  fits  of 
laughter. 

"  How  very  provoking ! "  said  the  poor  youth,  with  a 
dejected  look. 

"Never  mind — never  say  die — ^try  again,"  said  the 
accountant^  on  recovering  his  gravity.  Having  re-loadcd, 
they  continued  the  pursuit. 

"  Dear  me !"  exclaimed  Harry,  suddenly,  "  here  are 
three  dead  birds ;  I  verily  believe,  Hamilton,  that  you 
have  killed  them  all  at  one  shot  by  accident." 

"  Can  it  be  possible  ? "  exclaimed  his  friend,  as,  with  a 
look  of  amazement,  he  regarded  the  birds. 

There  was  no  doubt  about  the  fact.  There  they  lay, 
plump  and  still  warm,  with  one  or  two  drops  of  bright 
red  blood  upon  their  white  plumage.  Ptarmigan  are 
almost  pure  white,  so  that  it  requires  a  practised  eye  to 


FROM  THE  FAR  NOllTH. 


283 


detect  them,  even  at  the  distance  of  a  few  yards ;  and  it 
would  be  ahuost  impossible  to  hunt  them  without  dogs, 
but  for  the  tell-tale  snow,  in  which  their  tracks  are  dis- 
tinctly marked,  enabling  the  sportsman  to  follow  them 
up  with  unerring  certainty.  When  Hamilton  made  his 
bad  shot,  neither  he  nor  his  companions  observed  a  group 
of  ptarmigan  not  more  than  fifty  yards  before  them,  their 
attention  being  rivetted  at  the  time  on  the  solitary  bird, 
and  the  gun  happening  to  be  directed  towards  them  when 
it  was  fired,  three  were  instantly  and  unwittingly  placed 
hors  de  combat,  while  the  others  ran  away.  This  the  sur- 
vivors frequently  do  when  very  tame,  instead  of  taking 
wing.  Thus  it  was  that  Hamilton,  to  his  immense  de- 
light, made  such  a  successful  shot  without  being  aware 
of  it. 

Having  bagged  their  game,  the  party  proceeded  on  their 
way.  Several  large  flocks  of  birds  were  raised,  and  the 
game-bags  nearly  fiUed,  before  reaching  the  spot  where 
they  intended  to  turn,  and  bend  their  steps  homewards. 
This  induced  them  to  give  up  the  idea  of  going  further ; 
and  it  was  fortunate  they  came  to  this  resolution,  for  a 
storm  was  brewing,  which,  in  the  eagerness  of  pursuit 
after  game,  they  had  not  noticed.  Dark  masses  of  leaden- 
coloured  clouds  were  gathering  in  the  sky  overhead,  and 
faint  sighs  of  wind  came,  ever  and  anon,  in  fitful  gusts 
from  the  north-west. 

HuiTying  forward  as  quickly  as  possible,  they  now 
pursued  their  course  in  a  direction  which  would  enable 
them  to  cross  the  wood-cutters'  track.  This  they  soon 
reached,  and  finding  it  pretty  weU  beaten,  were  enabled 
to  make  more  rapid  progress.  Fortunately  the  wind  was 
blowing  on  their  backs,  otherwise  they  would  have  had  to 


1 


284 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


contend  not  only  with  its  violence,  but  also  "with  the  snow- 
drift, which  now  whirled  in  bitter  fury  among  the  trees, 
or  scoured  like  diiving  clouds  over  the  plain.  Under  this 
aspect,  the  flat  country  over  which  the)'  travelled  seemed 
the  perfection  of  bleak  desolation.  Their  way,  however, 
did  not  lie  in  a  direct  line.  The  track  was  somewhat 
tortuous,  and  gradually  edged  towards  the  north,  until 
the  wind  blew  nearly  in  their  teeth.  At  tliis  point,  too, 
they  came  to  the  stretch  of  open  ground,  which  they  had 
crossed  at  a  point  some  miles  further  to  the  northward, 
in  their  night  march.  Here  the  storm  raged  in  all  its 
fury,  and  as  they  looked  out  upon  the  plain,  before  quit- 
ting the  shelter  of  the  wood,  they  paused  to  tighten  theu* 
belts  and  re-adjust  their  snow-shoe  lines.  The  gaJe  was 
so  violent  that  the  whole  plain  seemed  tossed  about  like 
billows  of  the  sea,  as  the  drift  rose  and  fell,  curled,  eddied, 
and  dashed  along,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  see  more 
than  half  a  dozen  yards  in  advance. 

"  Heaven  preserve  us  from  ever  being  caught  in  an 
exposed  place  ox^  such  a  night  as  this,"  said  the  accoun- 
tant, as  he  survey  ed  the  prospect  before  him.  "  Luckily 
the  open  country  here  is  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  broad,  and  even  that  little  bit  will  try  our  wind 
somewhat." 

Hamilton  and  Harry  seemed  by  their  looks  to  say, 
"  We  could  easily  face  even  a  stiffer  breeze  than  that,  if 
need  be." 

"  What  should  we  do,"  inquired  the  former,  "  if  the 
plain  were  five  or  six  miles  broad  ?" 

"  Do  ?  why,  we  should  have  to  camp  in  the  woods  till 
it  blew  over,  that's  all,"  replied  the  accountant;  "but, 
seeing  that  we  are  not  reduced  to  such  a  necessity  just  now, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTIL 


285 


and  that  the  day  is  drawing  to  a  close,  let  us  face  it  at 
once.  I'll  lead  the  way,  and  see  that  you  follow  close  at 
my  heels.  Don't  lose  sight  of  me  for  a  moment,  and  if 
you  do,  by  chance,  give  a  shout ;  d'ye  hear  ?" 

The  two  lads  replied  in  the  affirmative;  and  then  bracing 
themselves  up  as  if  for  a  great  effort,  stepped  vigorously 
out  upon  the  plain,  and  were  instantly  swallowed  up  in 
clouds  of  snow.  For  half  an  hour  or  more,  they  battled 
slowly  against  the  howling  storm ;  pressing  forward,  for 
some  minutes,  with  heads  down,  as  if  boring  through  it, — 
tlicn  turning  their  backs  to  the  blast  for  a  few  seconds' 
relief, — but  always  keeping  as  close  to  each  other  as 
possible.  At  length  the  woods  were  gained ;  on  entering 
which  it  was  discovered  that  Hamilton  was  missing. 

"  Hallo  !  where's  Hamilton  ?"  exclaimed  Harry ;  "  1 
saw  liim  beside  me  not  five  minutes  ago." 

The  accountant  gave  a  loud  shout,  but  there  was  no 
reply.  Indeed,  nothing  short  of  his  own  stentorian  voice 
could  have  been  heard  at  all  amid  the  storm. 

"  There's  nothing  for  it,"  said  Harry,  "  but  to  search 
at  once,  else  he'll  wander  about  and  get  lost."  Saying 
this,  he  began  to  retrace  his  steps,  just  as  a  brief  lull  in 
the  gale  took  place. 

"  Hallo  !  don't  you  hear  a  cry,  Harry  1" 

At  this  moment,  there  was  another  lull ;  the  drift  fell, 
and,  for  an  instant,  cleared  away,  revealing  the  bewildered 
Hamilton,  not  twenty  yards  off,  standing,  like  a  pillar  of 
snow,  in  mute  despair. 

Profiting  by  the  glimpse,  Harry  rushed  forward, 
caught  him  by  the  arm,  and  led  him  into  the  partial 
shelter  of  the  forest. 

Nothing  further  befel  them  after  this.     Their  route 


r  > 


-i 


286 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


lay  in  shelter  all  the  way  to  the  fort.  Poor  Hamilton, 
it  is  true,  took  one  or  two  of  his  occasional  plunges  by 
the  way,  but  without  any  serious  result, — not  even  to  the 
extent  of  stuffing  liis  nose,  ears,  neck,  mittens,  pockets, 
gun-barrels,  and  everjrthing  else  with  snow,  because,  these 
being  quite  full  and  hard  packed  already,  there  was  no 
room  left  for  the  addition  of  another  particle. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NOIITIL 


287 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  winter  packet;  Harry  hears  from  old  friends,  and  wishes  that 
lie  was  with  them. 


Letters  from  home  !  What  a  burst  of  sudden  emotion — 
what  a  riot  of  conflicting  feelings,  of  dread  and  joy, 
expectation  and  anxiety — what  a  flood  of  old  memories — 
what  stirring  up  of  almost  forgotten  associations,  these 
three  words  create  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  dwell 
in  distant  regions  of  this  earth,  far,  far  away  from 
kith  and  kin — from  friends  and  acquaintances — from 
the  much-loved  scenes  of  childhood,  and  from  home! 
Letters  from  home !  How  gratefully  the  sound  falls 
upon  ears  that  have  been  long  unaccustomed  to 
sounds  and  things  connected  with  home,  and  so  long 
accustomed  to  wild,  savage  sounds,  that  these  have 
at  length  lost  their  novelty,  and  become  everyday  and 
commonplace,  while  the  first  have  gradually  grown 
strange  and  unwonted.  For  many  long  months,  home  and 
all  connected  with  it  has  become  a  dream  of  other  days, 
and  savage-land  a  present  reality.  The  mind  has  by  de- 
grees become  absorbed  by  surrounding  objects— objects  so 
utterly  unassociated  with,  or  unsuggestive  of  any  other 
land,  that  it  involuntarily  ceases  to  think  of  the  scenes  of 
childhood  with  the  same  feelings  that  it  once  did.  As 
time  rolls  on,  home  assumes  a  misty,  undefined  character,  as 
if  it  were  not  only  distant  in  reality,  but  were  also  slowly 


I 


'if 


288 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


retreating  further  and  further  away — growing  gradually 
faint  and  dream-like,  though  notle8sdear,tothementalview 

"  Letters  from  home ! "  shouted  Mr  Wilson,  and  the 
doctor,  and  the  skipper,  simultaneously,  as  the  sportsmen, 
after  dashing  through  the  wild  storm,  at  last  reached  the 
fort,  and  stumbled  tumultuously  into  Bachelorfi'  Hall. 

«  What !  —  Where  !  --  How  !  —  You  don't  mean  it ! " 
they  exclaimed,  coming  to  a  sudden  stand,  like  three  pil- 
lars of  snow-clad  astonishment. 

"  Ay,"  replied  the  doctor — who  affected  to  be  quile 
cool  upon  all  occasions,  and  rather  cooler  than  usual  if 
the  occasion  was  more  than  ordinarily  exciting — "  ay,  we 
do  mean  it.  Old  Bogan  has  got  the  packet,  and  is  even 
no\^  disembowelling  it." 

"  More  than  that,"  interrupted  the  skipper,  who  sat 
smoking  as  usual  by  the  stove,  with  his  hands  in  his 
breeches -pockets — "  more  than  that,  I  saw  him  dissect- 
ing into  the  very  marrow  of  the  thing ;  so,  if  we  don't 
storm  the  old  admiral  in  his  cabin,  he'll  go  to  sleep  over 
these  prosy  yarns  that  the  governor-in-chief  writes  to 
him,  and  we'll  have  to  whistle  for  our  letters  till  mid- 
night." 

The  skipper's  remark  was  interrupted  by  the  opening 
of  the  outer  door  and  the  entrance  of  the  butler.  "  Mr 
Rogan  wishes  to  see  you,  sir,"  said  that  worthy  to  the 
accountant. 

"  I'll  be  with  him  in  a  minute,"  he  replied,  as  he  threw 
off  his  capote  and  proceeded  to  unwind  himself  as  quicklj 
as  his  multitudinous  haps  would  permit. 

By  this  time  Harry  Somerville  and  Hamilton  were 
busily  occupied  in  a  similar  manner,  while  a  running  fire 
of  question  and  answer,  jesting  remark   and  bantering 


I;l 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


289 


reply,  was  kept  up  between  the  young  men,  from  their 
various  apai-tmenta  and  the  hall.  The  doctor  was  cool,  as 
usual,  and  impudent.  He  had  a  habit  of  walking  up  and 
down  while  he  smoked,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  look  in 
upon  the  inmates  of  the  several  sleeping  rooms,  and  make 
his  remarks  in  a  quiet,  sarcastic  manner,  the  galling  effect 
of  which  was  heightened  by  his  habit  of  pausing  at  the 
end  of  every  two  or  three  words,  to  emit  a  few  puffs  of 
smoke.  Having  exhausted  a  good  deal  of  small  talk  in 
this  way,  and  having,  moreover,  finished  his  pipe,  the 
doctor  went  to  the  stove  to  re-fill  and  re-light. 

"  What  a  deal  of  trouble  you  do  take  to  make  yourself 
comfortable,"  said  he  to  the  skipper,  who  sat  with  his 
chair  tilted  on  its  hind  legs,  and  a  pillow  at  his  back. 

"  No  harm  in  that,  doctor,"  replied  the  skipper,  with 
a  smile. 

"  No  harm,  certainly;  but  it  looks  uncommonly  lazy- 
like." 

"What  does?" 

"  Why,  putting  a  pillow  at  your  back,  to  be  sure." 
The  doctor  was  a  full-fleshed,  muscular  man,  and, 
owing  to  this  fact,  it  mattered  little  to  him  whether  his 
chair  happened  to  be  an  easy  one  or  not.  As  the  skipper 
sometimes  remarked,  he  carried  padding  always  about 
with  him ;  he  was,  therefore,  a  little  apt  to  sneer  at  the 
attempts  of  his  brethren  to  render  the  ill-shaped,  wooden- 
bottomed  chairs,  with  which  the  hall  was  ornamented, 
bearable. 

"  Well,  doctor,"  said  the  skipper,  "  I  cannot  see  how 
you  make  me  out  lazy.  Surely  it  is  not  an  evidence  of 
laziness  my  endeavouring  to  render  these  instruments  of 
torture  less  tormenting?     Seeking  to  be  comfortable,  if 


i 


I 


290 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBKAMS 


it  docs  not  inconvenience  any  one  else,  is  not  laziness. 
Why,  what  is  comfort  ?"  The  skipper  began  to  wax 
philosophical  at  this  point,  and  took  the  pipe  from  his 
mouth  as  he  gravely  propounded  the  momentous  ques- 
tion. "  What  is  comfort  ?  If  I  go  out  to  camp  in  the 
woods,  and,  after  turning  in,  find  a  sharp  stump  sticking 
into  my  ribs  on  one  side,  and  a  pine  root  driving  in  the 
small  of  my  back  on  the  other  side,  is  that  comfort  1 
Certainly  not.  And  if  I  get  up,  seize  a  hatchet,  level 
the  stump,  cut  away  the  Toot,  and  spread  pine  brush 
over  the  })lace,  am  I  to  be  called  lazy  for  doing  so  1  Or 
if  I  sit  down  on  a  chair,  and,  on  trying  to  lean  back  to 
r^Bst  myself,  find  that  the  stupid  lubber  who  made  it,  has 
so  constructed  it,  that  four  small  hard  points  alone  touch 
my  person, — two  being  at  the  hip-joints,  and  two  at  the 
shoulder-blades  j  and  if,  to  relieve  such  physical  agony,  I 
jump  up  and  clap  a  pillow  at  my  back,  am  I  to  be  called 
lazy  for  doing  that  ?'* 

"  What  a  glorious  entry  that  would  make  in  the  log !" 
said  the  doctor,  in  a  low  tone,  soliloquisingly,  as  if  he 
made  the  remark  merely  for  his  own  satisfaction,  while 
he  tapped  the  ashes  out  of  his  pipe. 

The  skipper  looked  as  if  he  meditated  a  sharp  reply; 
but  his  intentions,  whatever  they  might  have  been,  were 
interrupted  by  the  opening  of  the  door,  and  the  entrance 
of  the  accountant,  bearing  under  his  arm  a  packet  of 
letters. 

A  general  rush  was  made  upon  him,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  a  dead  silence  reigned  in  the  hall,  broken  only 
at  intervals  by  an  exclamation  of  surprise  or  pathos,  as 
the  inmates,  in  the  retirement  of  their  separate  apart- 
ments, perused  letters  from  friends  in  the  interior  of  the 


PROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


I.» 


201 


country,  and  frienda  at  Lome, — letters  that  wore  old — 
bome  of  them  bearing  dates  many  months  back — and 
travel-stained,  but  new,  and  fresh,  and  cheering,  never- 
theless, to  their  owners,  as  the  clear  bright  sun  in  winter, 
or  the  verdant  loaves  in  spring. 

Hany  Somorville's  letters  were  numerous  and  long, 
lie  had  several  from  friends  in  Red  River,  besides  one  or 
two  from  other  parts  of  the  Indian  country,  and  one — it 
was  very  thick  and  heavy- -that  bore  the  post-marks  of 
Britain.  It  was  late  that  night  ore  the  lost  candle  was 
extinguished  in  the  hall,  and  it  was  late  too  before 
Harry  Somerville  ceased  to  peruse  and  re-peruse  the 
long  letter  from  home,  and  found  time  or  inclination  to 
devote  to  his  other  correspondents.  Among  the  rest  was 
a  letter  from  his  old  friend  and  companion,  Chai'ley 
Kennedy,  which  ran  as  follows  : — 


My  dear  Harry, — It  really  seems  more  than  an  ago 
since  I  saw  you.  Your  last  epistle,  written  in  the  pertur- 
bation of  mind  consequent  upon  being  doomed  to  spend 
another  winter  at  York  Fort,  reached  me  only  a  few  days 
ago,  and  filled  me  with  pleasant  recollections  of  other 
days.  Oh  !  man,  how  much  I  wish  that  you  were  with  me 
in  this  beautiful  country  !  You  are  aware  that  I  have 
been  what  they  call  "  roughing  it "  since  you  and  I  parted 
on  the  shores  of  Lake  "Winipeg ;  but,  my  dear  fellow,  the 
idea  that  most  people  have  of  what  that  phrase  means,  is 
a  very  erroneous  one  indeed.  "  Roughing  it "  I  certainly 
have  been,  inasmuch  as  I  have  been  living  on  rough 
fare,  associating  with  rough  men,  and  sleeping  on  rough 
beds  under  the  stany  sky ;  but  I  assure  you,  that  all  this 
is  not  half  so  rough  upon  the  constitution  as  what  they 


;   f 


1 

i 


292 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


call  leading  an  easy  life ;  whicli  is  simply  a  life  that  makes 
a  poor  fellow  stagnate,  body  and  spirit,  till  the  one  comes 
to  be  unable  to  digest  its  food,  and  the  other  incompetent 
to  jump  at  so  much  as  half  an  idea.      Anything  but  an 
easy  life,  to  my  mind.     Ah !  there's  nothing  like  roughing 
it,  Harry,  my  boy.      Why,  I  am  thriving  on  it ;  growing 
like  a  young  walrus;  eating  like  a  Canadian  voj/ageur, 
and  sleeping  like  a  top.     This  is  a  splendid  country  for 
sport,  and,  as  our  Bourgeois*  has  taken  it  into  his  head 
that   I   am   a   good    hand  at  making  friends  with  the 
Indians,  he  has  sent  me  out  on  several  expeditions,  and 
afforded   me  some   famous    opportunities   of  seeing  life 
amqng   the   redskins.       There   is   a   talk    just    now   of 
establishing  a  new  outpost  in  this  district,  so,  if  I  succeed 
in  persuading  the  governor  to  let  me  accompany  the  party, 
I  shall  have  something  interesting  to  write  about  in  my 
next  letter.     By  the  way,  I  wrote  to  you  a  month  ago,  by 
two  Indians  who  said  they  were  going  to  the  missionary 
station  at  Norway  House.     Did  you  ever  get  it?     There 
is  a  hunter  here  just  now,  who  goes  by  the  name  of 
Jacques  Caradoc.     He  is  a  fii-st-rater — can  do  anything, 
in  a  wild  way,  that  lies  within  the  power  of  mortal  man, 
and  is  an  inexhaustible  {vuecdote-teller,  in  a  quiet  way. 
He  and  I  have  been  out  buffalo-hunting  two  or  three 
times,  and  it  would  have  done  your  heart  good,  Harry, 
my  dear  boy,  to  have  seen  us  scouring  over  the  prairie 
together    on    two    big-boned    Indian    horses;  —  regular 
trained  buffalo-runners,  that  didn't  need  the  spur  to  urge, 
nor  the  rein  to  guide  them,  when  once  they  caught  siglit 
of  the  black  cattle,  and  kept  a  sharp  look-out  for  badger 

♦  The  gentleman  in  charge  of  an  establishment  is  always  designated  the 
Bourgeois. 


FROM  TUE  FAR  NORTH. 


293 


holes,  just  as  if  they  had  been  reasonable  creatures.  The 
first  time  I  went  out  I  had  several  rather  ugly  falls, 
owing  to  my  inexperience.  The  fact  is,  that  if  a  man 
has  never  run  bufialoes  before,  he's  sure  to  get  one  or  two 
upsets,  no  matter  how  good  a  horseman  he  may  be. 
And  that  monster,  Jacques,  although  he's  the  best  tellow 
I  ever  met  with  for  a  hunting  companion,  always  took 
occasion  to  grin  at  my  mishaps,  and  gravely  to  read  me  a 
lecture  to  the  effect  that  they  were  all  owing  to  my  own 
clumsiness  or  stupidity;  which,  you  will  acknowledge, 
was  not  calculated  to  restore  my  equanimity. 

The  very  first  run  we  had  cost  me  the  entire  skin  of 
my  nose,  and  converted  that  feature  into  a  superb  Roman 
for  the  next  three  weeks.  It  happened  thus.  Jacques 
and  I  were  riding  over  the  prairie  in  search  of  buffaloes. 
The  place  was  interspersed  with  sundry  knolls  covered 
with  trees,  slips  and  belts  of  woodland,  with  ponds 
scattered  among  them,  and  open  sweeps  of  the  plain  here 
and  there ;  altogether  a  delightful  country  to  ride 
through.  It  was  a  clear  early  morning,  so  that  our 
horses  were  fresh  and  full  of  spirit.  They  knew,  as  well 
as  we  ourselves  did,  what  we  were  out  for,  and  it  was  no 
easy  matter  to  restrain  them.  The  one  I  rode  was  a  great 
long-legged  beast,  as  like  as  possible  to  that  abominable 
kangaroo  that  nearly  killed  me  at  Eed  Kiver;  as  for 
Jacques,  he  was  mounted  on  a  first-rate  chu-rger.  I  don't 
know  how  it  is,  but,  somehow  or  other,  everything  about 
Jacques,  or  belonging  to  him,  or  in  the  remotest  degree 
connected  with  him,  is  always  first-rate  !  He  generally 
owns  a  first-rate  horse,  and  if  he  happens  by  any  unlucky 
chance  to  be  compelled  to  mount  a  bad  one,  it  immediately 
becomes  another  animal.     He  seems  to  infuse  some  of  hii 


294 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


own  wonderful  spirit  into  it !  "Well,  as  Jacques  and  I 
Curvetted  along,  skirting  the  low  bushes  at  the  edge  of  a 
wood,  out  burst  a  whole  herd  of  buffaloes.  Bang  went 
Jacques'  gun,  almost  before  I  had  winked  to  make  sure 
that  I  saw  rightly,  and  down  fell  the  fattest  of  them  all, 
while  the  rest  tossed  up  their  tails,  heels,  and  heads,  in  one 
grand  whirl  of  indignant  amazement,  and  scoured  away 
like  the  wind.  In  a  moment  our  horses  were  at  full 
stretch  after  thera.  on  their  own  account  entirely,  and 
without  any  reference  to  us.  When  I  recovered  my  self- 
possession  a  little,  I  threw  forward  my  gun  and  fired, 
but,  owing  to  my  endeavouring  to  hold  the  reins  at  the 
same  time,  I  nearly  blew  off  one  of  my  horse's  ears,  and 
only  knocked  up  the  dust  about  six  yards  ahead  of  us ! 
Of  course  Jacques  could  not  let  this  pass  unnoticed.  He 
was  sitting  quietly  loading  his  gun,  as  cool  as  a  cucumber, 
while  his  horse  was  dashing  forward  at  full  stretch,  with 
the  reins  hanging  loosely  on  liis  neck. 

"Ah  !  Mister  Charles, "  said  he,  with  the  least  possible 
grin  on  his  leathern  visage,  "  that  was  not  well  done. 
You  should  never  hold  the  reins  when  you  fire,  nor  try 
to  put  the  gun  to  your  shoulder.  It  a'nt  needful  The 
beast  '11  look  aiiier  itself,  if  it's  a  riglav  buffalo  runner ; 
anyways  holdin'  the  reins  is  of  no  manner  of  use.  I  once 
know'd  a  gentleman  that  came  out  here  to  see  the  buffalo 
huntin'.  He  was  a  good  enough  shot  in  his  way,  an'  a 
first-rate  rider.  But  he  was  full  o'  queer  notions,  he 
would  load  his  gun  with  the  ramrod  in  the  riglar  way, 
instead  o'  doin'  as  we  do,  tumblin'  in  a  drop  powder, 
spittin'  a  ball  out  your  mouth  down  the  muzzle,  and 
hittin'  the  stock  on  the  pommell  of  the  saddle  to  send  it 
home.    And  he  had  them  miserable  things — the  somethin' 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


205 


'cussion-caps,  and  used  to  fiddle  awaj  with  them,  while 
we  were  kiockin'  over  the  cattle  in  all  directions. 
Moreover  ht  had  a  notion  that  it  was  altogether  wrong 
to  let  go  his  reins  even  for  a  moment,  and  so,  what 
between  the  ramrod,  and  the  'cussion-caps,  and  the  reins, 
he  was  worse  than  the  greenest  clerk  that  ever  came  to 
the  country.  He  gave  it  up  in  despair  at  last,  after 
lamin'  two  horses,  and  finished  off  by  runnin'  after  a  big 
bull,  that  turned  on  him  all  of  a  suddent,  crammed  its 
head  and  horns  into  the  side  of  his  horse,  and  sent  the 
poor  fellow  head  over  heels  on  the  green  grass.  He 
wasn't  much  the  worse  for  it,  but  his  fine  double-barrelled 
gun  was  twisted  into  a  shape  that  would  almost  have 
puzzled  an  Injin  to  tell  what  it  was."  "Well,  Harry,  all 
the  time  that  Jacques  was  telling  me  this  we  were  gaining 
on  the  buffaloes,  and  at  last  we  got  quite  close  to  them, 
and  as  luck  would  have  it,  the  very  thing  that  happened 
to  the  amateur  sporfcsi.  ^an  happened  to  me.  I  went  madly 
after  a  big  bull  in  spite  of  Jacques'  remonstrances,  and, 
just  as  I  got  alongside  of  him,  up  went  his  tail,  (a  sure 
sign  that  his  anger  was  roused)  and  round  he  came,  head 
to  the  front,  stiff  as  a  rock,  my  poor  charger's  chest  went 
right  between  his  horns,  and,  as  a  matter  of  course,  I 
continued  the  race  upon  nothing,  head  first,  for  a  distance 
of  about  thirty  yards,  and  brought  up  on  the  bridge  of 
my  nose.  My  poor  dear  father  used  to  say  I  was  a  bull- 
headed  rascal,  and,  upon  my  word,  I  believe  he  was  more 
literally  correct  than  he  imagined,  for,  although  I  fell 
with  a  fearful  crash,  head  first,  on  the  hard  plain,  I  rose 
up  immediately,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  able  to  resume 
the  chase  again.  My  horse  was  equally  fortunate,  for,  al- 
though thus  brought  to  a  sudden  stand  while  at  full  gallop, 


till 


296 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


:il 


he  wheeled  about,  gave  a  contemptuous  flourish  with  his 
heels,  and  cantered  after  Jacques,  who  soon  caught  him 
again.  My  head  bothered  me  a  good  deal  for  some  time 
after  this  accident,  and  swelled  up  till  my  eyes  became 
almost  undistinguishable ;  but  a  few  weeks  put  me  all 
right  again.  And  who  do  you  think  this  man  Jacques 
is  ?  You'd  never  guess.  He's  the  trapper  whom  Red- 
feather  told  us  of  long  ago,  and  whose  wife  was  killed  by 
the  Indians.  He  and  Redfeather  have  met  and  are  very 
fond  of  each  other.  How  often  in  the  midst  of  these 
wild  excursions  have  my  thoughts  wandered  to  you, 
Harry!  The  fellows  I  meet  with  here  are  all  kind- 
hearted,  merry  companions,  but  none  like  yourself.  I 
sometimes  say  to  Jacques,  when  we  become  communica- 
tive to  each  other  beside  the  camp-fire,  that  my  earthly 
felicity  would  be  perfect  if  I  had  Harry  Somerville  here, 
and  then  I  think  of  Kate,  my  sweet,  loving  sister  Kate, 
and  feel  that,  even  although  I  had  you  with  me,  there 
would  still  be  something  wanting  to  make  things  perfect. 
Talking  of  Kate,  by  the  way,  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  her,  the  first  sheet  of  which,  as  it  speaks  of  mutual 
Red  River  friends,  I  herewith  enclose.  Pray  keep  it  safe, 
and  return  per  first  opportunity.  "We've  loads  of  furs 
here  and  plenty  of  deer-stalking — not  to  mention  gallop- 
ing on  horseback  on  the  plains  in  summer,  and  dog-sledg- 
ing in  winter.  Alas !  my  poor  friend,  I  fear  that  it  is 
Tather  selfish  in  me  to  write  so  feelingly  about  my  agree- 
able circumstances,  when  I  know  you  are  slowly  dragging 
out  your  existence  at  that  melancholy  place,  York  Fort ; 
but,  believe  me,  I  sympathise  with  you,  and  I  hope  ear- 
nestly that  you  will  soon  be  appointed  to  more  genial 
scenes.     I  have  much  very  much  to  tell  you  yet,  but  am 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH, 


297 


oompelled  to  reserve  it  for  a  future  epistle,  as  the  packet 
which  is  to  convey  this  is  on  the  point  of  being  closed. 

Adieu,  my  dear  Harry,  and  wherever  you  may  happen 
to  pitch  your  tent,  always  bear  in  kindly  remembrance 
your  old  friend,  Charles  Kennedy. 

The  letter  was  finished,  but  Harry  did  not  cease  to 
hold  intercourse  with  his  friend.  With  his  head  resting 
on  his  two  hands  and  his  elbows  on  the  table,  he  sat  long, 
silently  gazing  on  the  signature,  while  his  mind  revelled 
in  the  past,  the  present,  and  the  future.  He  bounded 
over  the  wilderness  that  lay  between  him  and  the  beauti- 
ful plains  of  the  Saskatchewan.  He  seized  Charley  round 
the  neck,  and  hugged  and  wi'estled  with  him  as  in  days  of 
yore.  He  mounted  an  imaginary  charger  and  swept  across 
the  plains  along  with  him  ;  —  listened  to  anecdotes 
innumerable  from  Jacques,  attacked  thousands  of  buf- 
faloes, singled  out  scores  of  wild  bulls,  pitched  over  horses' 
heads  and  alighted  precisely  on  the  bridge  of  his  nose, 
always  in  close  proximity  to  his  old  friend.  Gradually  his 
mind  returned  to  its  prison-house,  and  his  eye  fell  on 
Kate's  letter,  which  he  picked  up  and  began  to  read.  It 
ran  thus : — 


My  dear,  dear,  darling  Charley, — I  cannot  tell  you 
how  much  my  heart  has  yearned  to  see  you,  or  hear  from 
you,  for  many  long,  long  months  past.  Your  last  delight- 
fid  letter,  which  I  treasure  up  as  the  most  precious  object 
I  possess,  has  indeed  explained  to  me  how  utterly  impos- 
sible it  was  to  have  written  a  day  sooner  than  you  did  ; 
but  that  does  not  comfort  me  a  bit,  or  make  those  weary 
packets  more  rapid  and  frequent  in  their  movements,  or 

20 


298 


SN0WFLAKE9  AND  SUNBEAMS 


the  time  that  passes  between  the  periods  of  hearing  from 
you  less  dreary  and  anxious.    God  bless  and  protect  you,  my 
darling,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  dangers  that  surround  you. 
But  I  did  not  intend  to  begin  this  letter  by  murmuring, 
so  pray  foi-give  me,  and  I  shall  tiy  to  atone  for  it  by 
giving  you  a  minute  account  of  everybody  here,  about 
whom  you  are  interested.     Our  beloved  father  and  mother, 
I  am  thankful  to  say,  are  quite  well.     Papa  has  taken 
moid  than  ever  to  smoking  since  you  went  away.     He  is 
seldom  out  of  the  summer-house  in  the  garden  now,  where 
I  very  frequently  go,  and  spend  hours  together  in  reading 
to  and  talking  with  him.     He  very  often  speaks  of  you, 
and  I  am  certain  that  he  misses  you  far  more  than  we 
expected,  although  I  tliink  he  cannot  miss  you  nearly  so 
much  as  I  do.     For  some  weeks  past,  indeed  ever  since 
we  got  your  last  letter,  papa  was  engaged  all  the  forenoon 
in  some  mysterious  work,  for  he  used  to  lock  himself  up 
in  the  summer-house, — a  thing  he  never  did  before.    One 
day  I  went  there  at  my  usual  time,  and  instead  of  having 
to  wait  till  he  should  unlock  the  door,  I  found  it  already 
open  and  entered  the  room,  which  was  so  full  of  smoke 
that  I  could  hardly  see.     I  found  papa  writing  at  a  small 
table,  and  the  moment  he  heard  my  footstep,  he  jumped 
up  with  a  fierce  frown,  and  shouted,  "  Wlio's  there  1 "  in 
that  terrible  voice  that  he  used  to  speak  in  long  ago  when 
angry  with  his  men,  but  which  he  has  almost  quite  given 
up  for  some  time  past.     He  never  speaks  to  me,  as  you 
know  very  well,  but  in  the  kindest  tones,  so  you  may 
imagine  what  a  dreadful  fright  I  got  for  a  moment,  but 
it  was  only  for  a  moment,  because  the  instant  he  saw  that 
it  was  me,  his  dear  face  changed,  and  he  folded  me  in  his 
arms,  sajdng,  "  Ah  !  Kate,  forgive  me,  my  darling !    I  did 


1.! 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


299 


not  know  it  was  you,  and  I  thought  I  had  locked  the  door, 
and  was  angry  at  being  so  unceremoniously  interrupted." 
He  then  told  me  he  was  just  finishing  a  letter  of  advice 
to  you,  and,  going  up  to  the  table,  pushed  the  papers 
hurriedly  into  a  drawer.  As  he  did  so,  I  guessed  what 
had  been  his  mysterious  occupation,  for  he  seemed  to 
hiive  covered  quires  of  paper  with  the  closest  writing. 
Ah  !  Charley,  you're  a  lucky  fellow  to  be  able  to  extort 
such  long  letters  from  our  dear  father.  You  know  how 
difficult  he  finds  it  to  write  even  the  shortest  note,  and 
you  remember  his  old  favoui'ite  expression,  "  I  would 
rather  skin  a  wild  bufialo  bull  alive  than  write  a  long 
letter."  He  deserves  long  ones  in  return,  Charley;  but 
I  need  not  urge  you  on  that  score — ^you  are  an  excellent 
correspondent.  Mamma  is  able  to  go  out  every  day  now 
for  a  drive  in  the  prairie.  She  was  confined  to  the  house 
for  nearly  three  weeks  last  mouth,  with  some  sort  of  illiiCoLV 
that  the  doctor  did  not  seem  to  understand,  and  at  one 
time  I  was  much  frightened,  and  very,  very  anxious 
about  her,  she  became  so  weak.  It  would  have  made 
your  heart  glad  to  have  seen  the  tender  way  in  which 
papa  nursed  her  through  the  illness.  I  had  fancied  that 
he  was  the  very  last  man  in  the  world  to  make  a  sick- 
nurse,  so  bold  and  quick  in  his  movements,  and  with  such 
a  loud  grufi"  voice — ^for  it  ts  gruflf,  although  very  sweet  at 
the  same  t'me.  But  the  moment  he  began  to  tend  mamma 
he  spoke  more  softly  even  than  dear  Mr  Addison  does, 
md  he  began  to  walk  about  the  house  on  tiptoe,  and  per- 
severed so  long  in  this  latter  that  all  his  moccasins  began 
to  be  worn  out  at  the  toes,  while  the  heels  remained  quite 
strong.  I  begged  of  him  often  not  to  take  so  much 
trouble,  as  /  was  naturally  the  proper  nurse  for  mamma. 


V,' 


300 


SNOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


tl 


1 !.  I 

ii!  i 


^! 


but  he  wouldn't  hear  of  it,  and  insisted  on  carrying 
breakfast,  dinner,  and  tea  to  her,  besides  giving  her  all 
her  medicine.  He  was  for  ever  making  mistakes,  how- 
ever, much  to  his  own  sorrow,  the  darling  man ;  and  I 
had  to  watch  him  pretty  closely,  for  more  than  once  he 
has  been  on  the  point  of  giving  mamma  a  glass  of  laudanum 
in  mistake  for  a  glass  of  poii;  wine.  I  was  a  good  deal 
frightened  for  him  at  fii-st,  as,  before  he  became  accus- 
tomed to  the  work,  he  tumbled  over  the  chairs  and  tripped 
on  the  carpets  while  carrying  trays  with  dinners  and 
breakfasts,  till  I  thought  he  would  really  injure  himself 
at  last,  and  then  he  was  so  terribly  angry  with  himself 
at  making  such  a  noise  and  breaking  the  dishes — I  think 
he  has  broken  nearly  an  entire  dinner  and  tea  set  of 
crockery.  Poor  George,  the  cook,  has  suflFered  most  from 
these  mishaps,  for  you  know  that  dear  papa  cannot  get 
angry  without  letting  a  little  of  it  out  upon  somebody;  and 
whenever  he  broke  a  dish  or  let  a  tray  fall,  he  used  to  nish 
into  the  kitchen,  shake  his  fist  in  George's  face,  and  ask 
him,  in  a  fierce  voice,  what  he  meant  by  it.  But  he 
always  got  better  in  a  few  seconds,  and  finished  ofi"  by 
telling  him  never  to  mind,  that  he  was  a  good  servant  on 
the  whole,  and  he  wouldn't  say  any  more  about  it 
just  now,  but  he  had  better  look  sharp  out  and  not  do  it 
again.  I  must  say,  in  praise  of  George,  that  on  such 
occasions,  he  looked  very  sorry  indeed,  and  said  he  hoped 
that  he  would  always  do  his  best  to  give  him  satisfaction. 
This  was  only  proper  in  him,  for  he  ought  to  be  very 
thankful  that  our  father  restrains  his  anger  so  much ;  for 
you  know  he  was  rather  violent  once,  and  you've  no  idea, 
Charley,  how  great  a  restraint  he  now  lays  on  himself. 
He  seems  to  me  quite  like  a  lamb,  and  I  am  beginning  to 


!.l 


FROM  1HE  FAR  NORTH. 


301 


foel  somehow  as  if  we  had  been  mistaken,  and  that  ho 
never  was  a  passionate  man  at  all.  I  think  it  is  partly 
owing  to  dear  Mr  Addison,  who  visits  us  very  frequently 
now,  and  papa  and  he  are  often  shut  up  together  for  many 
hours  in  the  smoking-house.  I  was  sure  that  papa  would 
soon  come  to  like  him,  for  his  religion  is  so  free  from 
everything  like  severity  or  affected  solemnity.  The  cook, 
and  Rosa,  and  my  dog  that  you  named  Twist,  are  all  quite 
welL  The  last  has  grown  into  a  very  large  and  beautiful 
animal,  something  like  the  stag-hound  in  the  picture-book 
we  used  to  study  together  long  ago.  He  is  exceedingly 
fond  of  me,  and  I  feel  him  to  be  quite  a  protector.  The 
cocks  and  hens,  the  cow  and  the  old  mare,  are  also  in  per- 
fect health ;  so  now,  having  told  you  a  good  deal  about 
ourselves,  I  will  give  you  a  short  account  of  the  doings  in 
the  colony. 

Fii-st  of  all,  your  old  friend  Mr  Kipples  is  still  alive 
and  well,  and  so  are  all  our  old  companions  in  the  school. 
One  or  two  of  the  latter  have  left,  and  young  Naysmith 
has  joined  the  Company's  service.  Betty  Peters  comes 
very  often  to  see  us,  and  she  always  asks  for  you  with 
great  earnestness.  I  think  you  have  stolen  the  old  wo- 
man's heart,  Charley,  for  she  speaks  of  you  with  great 
affection.  Old  Mr  Seaforth  is  still  as  vigorous  as  ever, 
dashing  about  the  settlement  on  a  high-mettled  steed, 
just  as  if  he  were  one  of  the  youngest  men  in  the  colony. 
He  nearly  poisoned  himself,  poor  man,  a  month  ago,  by 
taking  a  dose  of  some  kind  of  medicine  by  mistake.  I  did 
not  hear  what  it  was,  but  I  am  told  that  the  treatment 
was  rather  severe.  Fortunately  the  doctor  happened  to 
be  at  home  when  he  was  sent  for,  else  our  old  friend 
would,  I  fear,  have  died.     As  it  was,  the  doctor  cured  him 


302 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUXBEAMS 


with  great  difficulty.  He  first  gave  him  an  emetic,  then 
put  mustard  blisters  to  the  soles  of  his  feet,  and  afterwards 
lifted  him  into  one  of  his  own  carts,  without  springs,  in 
which  he  drove  him  for  a  long  time  over  all  the  ploughed 
fields  in  the  neighbourhood.  If  this  is  not  an  exaggerated 
account,  Mr  Seaforth  is  certainly  made  of  sterner  stuff 
than  most  men.  I  was  told  a  funnv  anecdote  of  him  a 
few  days  ago,  which  I  am  sure  you  have  never  heard,  other- 
wise you  would  have  told  it  to  me,  for  there  used  to  be  no 
secrets  between  us,  Charley, — alas  !  I  have  no  one  to  con- 
fide in,  or  advise  with,  now  that  you  are  gone.  You 
have  often  heard  of  the  great  flood — not  Noah's  one — but 
the  flood  that  nearly  swept  away  our  settlement,  and  did 
do  much  damage  before  you  and  I  were  bom.  Well,  you 
recollect  that  people  used  to  tell  of  the  way  in  wldch  the 
river  rose  after  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice,  and  how  it  soon 
overflowed  all  the  low  points,  sweeping  ofi"  everything  in 
its  course.  Old  Mr  Seaforth's  house  stood  at  that  time  on 
the  little  point,  just  beyond  the  curve  of  the  river,  at  the 
foot  of  which  our  own  house  stands,  and  as  the  river  con- 
tinued to  rise,  Mr  Seaforth  went  about  actively  securing 
his  property.  At  first  he  only  thought  of  his  boat  and 
canoes,  which,  with  the  help  of  his  son  Peter  and  a  Cana- 
dian, who  happened  at  the  time  to  be  employed  about  the 
place,  he  dragged  up  and  secured  to  an  iron  staple  in  the 
side  of  liis  house.  Soon,  however,  he  found  that  the  dan- 
ger was  greater  than  at  first  he  imagined.  The  point 
became  completely  covered  with  water,  which  brought 
down  great  numbers  of  half-drowned  and  quite-drowned 
cattle,  pigs,  and  poultry ;  and  stranded  them  at  the  gar- 
den fence,  so  that  in  a  short  time  poor  Mr  Seaforth  could 
scarcely  move  about  his  overcrowded  domains.     On  seeing 


I,! 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


303 


this,  he  drove  liis  own  cattle  to  the  highest  hmd  in  his 
neighbourhood  and  hastened  back  to  the  house,  intending 
to  cany  as  much  of  the  furniture  as  possible  to  the  same 
place.  But  during  his  short  absence,  the  river  had  risen 
so  rapidly,  that  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  all  thoughts  of 
this,  and  think  only  of  securing  a  few  of  his  valuables. 
The  bit  of  land  round  his  dwelling  was  so  thickly  covered 
^vith  the  poor  cows,  sheep,  and  other  animals,  that  he 
could  scarcely  make  his  way  to  the  house,  and  you  may 
fancy  his  consternation  on  reaching  it,  to  find  that  the 
water  was  more  than  knee-deep  round  the  walls,  while  a 
few  of  the  cows  and  a  whole  herd  of  pigs  had  burst  open 
the  door  (no  doubt  accidentally)  and  coolly  entered  the 
dining-room,  where  they  stood  with  drooping  heads,  very 
wet,  and  apparently  very  miserable.  The  Canadian  was 
busy  at  the  back  of  the  house,  loading  the  boat  and  canoe 
with  everything  he  could  lay  hands  on,  and  was  not  aware 
of  the  foreign  invasion  in  front.  Mr  Seaforth  cared  little 
for  this,  however,  and  began  to  collect  all  the  things  he 
held  most  valuable,  and  threw  them  to  the  man,  who 
stowed  them  away  in  the  boat.  Peter  had  been  left  in 
charge  of  the  cattle,  so  they  had  to  work  hard.  While 
thus  employed  the  water  continued  to  rise  with  fearful 
rapidity,  and  rushed  against  the  house  like  a  mill-race,  so 
that  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  whole  would,  ere 
long,  be  swept  away.  Just  as  they  finished  loading  the 
boat  and  canoes,  the  staple  which  held  them  gave  way ; 
in  a  moment  they  were  swept  into  the  middle  of  the  river, 
and  carried  out  of  sight.  The  Canadian  was  in  the  boat 
at  the  time  the  staple  broke,  so  that  Mr  Seafoi-th  was 
now  left  in  a  dwelling  that  bid  fair  to  emulate  Noah's  ark 
in  an  hour  or  two,  without  a  chance  of  escape,  and  with 


304 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  8UNBEA3I8 


uo  better  company  than  five  black  oxen,  in  the  dining-room, 
besides  three  sheep  that  were  now  scarcely  able  to  keep  their 
heads  above  water,  and  three  little  pigs  that  were  already 
drowned.  The  poor  old  man  did  his  best  to  push  out  the 
intrudera,  but  only  succeeded  in  ejecting  two  sheep  and 
an  ox.  All  the  others  positively  refused  to  go,  so  he  was 
fain  to  let  them  stay.  By  shutting  the  outer  door,  he  suc- 
ceeded in  keeping  out  a  great  deal  of  water.  Then  he 
waded  into  the  parlour,  where  he  found  some  more  little 
pigs  floating  alx)ut  and  quite  dead.  Two,  however,  more 
adventurous  than  their  comrades,  had  saved  their  lives  by 
mounting  firat  on  a  chair  and  then  upon  the  table,  where 
they  were  comfortably  seated,  gazing  languidly  at  their 
lAother,  a  very  heavy  fat  sow,  which  sat,  with  what  seemed 
an  expression  of  settled  depair,  on  the  sofa.  In  a  fit  of 
wrath,  Mr  Seaforth  seized  the  young  pigs  and  tossed  them 
out  of  the  window,  whereupon  the  old  one  jumped  down, 
and  half-walking,  half-swimming,  made  her  way  to  her 
companions  in  the  dining-room.  The  old  gentleman  now 
ascended  to  the  garret,  where,  from  a  small  window,  he 
looked  out  upon  the  scene  of  devastation.  His  chief 
anxiety  was  about  the  foundation  of  the  house,  which, 
being  made  of  a  wooden  fi'amework,  like  almost  all  the 
others  in  the  colony,  would  certainly  float  if  the  water 
rose  much  higher.  His  fears  were  better  founded  than  the 
house.  As  he  looked  up  the  river,  which  had  by  this 
time  overflowed  all  its  banks  and  was  spreading  over  the 
plains,  he  saw  a  fresh  burst  of  water  coming  down,  which, 
when  it  dashed  against  his  dwelling,  forced  it  about  two 
yards  from  its  foundation.  Suddenly  he  remembered  that 
there  was  a  large  anchor  and  chain  in  the  kitchen,  both 
of  which  he  had  brought  there  one  day,  to  serve  as  a  sort 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


305 


of  anvil,  when  he  wanted  to  do  some  blacksmith  world 
Hastening  down,  he  fastened  one  end  of  the  chain  to  the 
sofa,  and  cast  the  anchor  out  of  the  window.  A  few 
minutes  afterwards  another  rush  of  water  struck  the 
building,  which  yielded  to  pressure,  and  swung  slowly 
down  until  the  anchor  arrested  its  further  progress.  This 
was  only  for  a  few  seconds,  however.  The  chain  was  a 
slight  one.  It  snapped,  and  the  house  swept  majestically 
down  the  stream,  while  its  terrified  owner  scrambled  to 
tiie  roof,  which  he  found  already  in  possession  of  his  fa- 
vourite cat.  Here  he  had  a  clear  view  of  his  situation. 
The  plains  were  converted  into  a  lake,  above  whose  surface 
rose  trees  and  houses,  several  of  which,  like  his  own,  were 
floating  on  the  stream  or  stranded  among  shallows.  Set- 
tlers were  rowing  about  in  boats  and  canoes  in  all 
directions,  but,  although  some  of  them  noticed  the  poor 
man  sitting  beside  his  cat  on  the  house-top,  they  were 
either  too  far  off  or  had  no  time  to  render  him  assistanc<>. 
For  two  days  nothing  was  heard  of  old  Mr  Seaforth. 
Indeed,  the  settlers  had  too  much  to  do  in  saving  them- 
selves and  their  families  to  think  of  others ;  and  it  waa 
not  until  the  third  day  that  people  began  to  inquire 
about  him.  His  son  Peter  had  taken  a  canoe  and  made 
diligent  search  in  all  directions,  but  although  he  found 
the  house  sticking  on  a  shallow  point,  neither  his  father 
nor  the  cat  were  on,  or  in  it.  At  last  he  was  brought  to 
the  island,  on  which  nearly  half  the  cv»lony  had  collected, 
by  an  Indian  who  had  passed  the  house  and  brought  him 
away  in  his  canoe,  along  with  the  old  cat.  Is  he  not  a 
wonderful  man,  to  have  come  through  so  much  in  his  old 
age  ]  and  he  is  still  so  active  and  hearty !  Mr  Swan  of 
the  mill  is  dead.     He  died  of  fever  last  week.     Poor  old 


fli 


I* 
V 


: 


306 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Mr  Cordon  is  also  gone.  His  end  was  very  cad.  About 
a  month  ago  he  ordered  his  horse  and  rode  off,  intending 
to  visit  Foi-t  Garry.  At  the  turn  of  the  road,  just  above 
Grant's  House,  the  horse  suddenly  sweived,  and  its  rider 
was  thrown  to  the  ground.  He  did  not  live  more  than 
half  an  hour  after  it.  Alas  !  how  very  sad  to  see  a  man, 
after  escaping  all  the  countless  dangers  of  a  long  life  in 
the  woods,  (and  his,  you  know,  was  a  very  adventurous 
one,)  thus  cut  violently  down  in  his  old  age !  0 
Charley,  how  little  we  know  what  is  before  us !  How 
needful  to  have  our  peace  made  with  God  through  Jesus 
Christ,  so  that  we  may  be  ready  at  any  moment  when 
our  Father  calls  us  away.  There  are  many  events  of 
gteafc  interest  that  have  occurred  here  since  you  left. 
You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  Jane  Patterson  is  married 
to  our  excellent  friend  Mr  Cameron,  who  has  taken  up  a 
store  near  to  us,  and  intends  to  run  a  boat  to  York  Fort 
next  summer.  There  has  been  another  marriage  here, 
which  will  cause  you  astonishment  at  least,  if  not  plea- 
sure. Old  Mr  Peters  has  married  Marie  Peltier !  "What 
could  have  possessed  her  to  take  such  a  husband  ?  I  can- 
not understand  it.  Just  think  of  her,  Charley,  a  girl  of 
eig^iceen,  with  a  husband  of  seventy-five  ! 

At  this  point  the  writing,  which  was  very  close,  and 
very  small,  terminated.  Harry  laid  it  down  with  a  deep 
sigh ;  wishing  much  that  Charley  had  thought  it  advis- 
able to  send  him  the  second  sheet  also.  As  wishes  and 
regrets  on  tliis  point  were  equally  unavailing,  he  endea- 
voured to  continue  it  in  imagination,  and  was  soon  as 
deeply  absorbed  in  following  Kate  through  the  well-re- 
inembered  scenes  of  Red  River,  as  he  had  been,  a  short 


M 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


307 


time  before,  in  roaming  -with  her  brother  over  the  wide 
prairies  of  the  Saskatchewan.  The  increasing  cold,  how- 
ever, soon  warned  him  that  the  night  was  far  spent.  He 
rose  and  went  to  the  stove,  but  the  fire  had  gone  out,  and 
the  abnost  irresistible  frost  of  these  regions  was  already 
cooling  everything  in  Bachelora'  Hall  down  to  the  freez- 
ing point.  All  his  companions  had  put  out  their  candles, 
and  were  busy,  doubtless,  di*eaming  of  the  friends  whose 
letters  had  struck  and  re-awakened  the  long  dormant 
chords  that  used  to  echo  to  the  tones  and  scenes  of  other 
days.  With  a  slight  shiver,  Harry  returned  to  his  apart- 
ment, and  kneeled  to  thank  God  for  protecting  and  pre- 
serving his  absent  friends,  and  especially,  for  sending  him 
"good  news  from  a  far  land."  The  le^ter  with  the 
British  post-marks  on  it  was  placed  under  his  pillow. 
It  occupied  his  waking  and  sleeping  thoughts  that  night, 
and  it  was  the  first  thing  he  thought  of  and  re-read  on 
the  following  morning,  and  for  many  mornings  after- 
wards. Only  those  can  fully  estimate  the  value  of  such 
letters,  who  live  in  distant  lands,  where  letters  are  few 
— very,  very  few — and  far  between. 


? 


308 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Changes;  Harry  and  Hamilton  find  that  variety  is  indeed  charming; 
the  latter  astonishes  the  former  considerably. 


i  !: 


Three  montlis  passed  away,  but  the  snow  still  lay  deep, 
and  white,  and  undiminished  around  York  Fort.  Win- 
ter— cold,  silent,  unyielding  winter — still  diew  its  white 
mantle  closely  round  the  lonely  dwelling  of  the  fur- 
t^'aders  of  the  far  north. 

Icicles  hung,  as  they  had  done  for  months  before,  from 
the  eves  of  every  house,  from  the  tall  black  scaffold  on 
which  the  great  bell  hung,  and  from  the  still  taller 
erection  that  had  been  put  up  as  an  outlook  for  "the 
sliip  "  in  summer.  A-t  the  present  time,  it  commanded 
a  bleak  view  of  the  frozen  sea.  Snow  covered  every 
house-top,  and  hung  in  ponderous  masses  from  their 
edges,  as  if  it  were  about  to  fall;  but  it  never  fell,  it 
hung  there  in  the  same  position  day  after  day,  unmelted, 
unchanged.  Snow  covered  the  whole  land,  and  the  frozen 
I'iver,  the  swamps,  the  sea-beach  and  the  sea  itself,  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  seemed  like  a  pure  white  car- 
pet. Snow  lined  the  upper  edge  of  every  paling, 
filled  up  the  key-hole  of  every  door,  embanked  about  half 
of  every  window,  stuck  in  little  knobs  on  the  top  of  every 
picket,  and  clung  in  masses  on  every  drooping  branch  of 
the  pine-trees  in  the  forest.  Frost — sharp,  biting  frost — 
solidified,  surrounded,  and  pervaded  everything.     Mercury 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


1:1 


309 


was  congealed  by  it ;  vapour  was  condensed  by  it ;  iron 
was  cooled  by  it  until  it  could  scai'cely  be  touched  with- 
out (as  the  men  expressed  it)  "  burning "  the  fingers. 
The  water-jugs  in  Bachelors'  Hall  and  the  water-buckets 
were  frozen  by  it,  nearlj'^  to  the  bottom ;  though  there 
was  a  good  stove  there,  and  the  Hall  was  not  usually  a 
cold  place  by  any  means.     The  breath  of  the  inhabitants 
was  congealed  by  it  on  the  window-panes,  until  they  had 
become  coated  with  ice  an  inch  thick.     The  breath  of  the 
men  was  rendered  white  and  opaque   by  it,   ac  they 
panted  and   hurried    to  and   fro    about    their    ordinary 
avocations ;    beating   their  gloved   hands  together,  and 
sf.il  I    incc  their  well-wrapped-up  feet  on  the  hard  beaten 
sr  )       u  "jeep  them  warm.    Old  Robin's  nose  seemed  to  be 
entii  eiy  shrivelled  up  into  his  face  by  it,  as  he  drove  his 
ox-caii;  to  the  river  to  fetch  his  daily  supply  of  water. 
The  only  things  that  were  not  affected  by  it  were  the 
fires,  which  crackled  and  roared  as  if  in  laughter,  and 
twisted  and  leapt  as  if  in  uncontrollable  glee  at  the  bare 
idea  of  John  Frost  acquiring,  by  any  artifice  whatever, 
the  smallest  possible  influence  over  them !     Three  months 
had  elapsed,  but  frost  ana  snow,  instead  of  abating,  had 
gone  on  increasing  and  intensifying,  deepening  and  ex- 
tending its  work,  and  riveting  its  chains.  Winter — cold, 
silent,  unyielding  winter — still  reigned  at  York  Fort,  as 
though  it  had  made  it  a  sine  qua  non  of  its  existence  at 
all  that  it  should  reign  there  for  ever ! 

But  although  everything  was  thus  wintry  and  cold,  it 
was  by  no  means  cheerless  or  dreary.  A  bright  sun  shone 
in  the  blue  heavens  with  an  intenseness  of  brilliancy  that 
was  quite  dazzling  to  the  eyes,  that  elated  the  spirits, 
and  caused  man  and  beast  to  tread  with  a  more  elastic 


r  \ 


•.\ 


310 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


step  than  usual.  Although  the  sun  looked  down  upon 
•  the  scene  with  an  unclouded  face,  and  found  a  min'or  in 
every  icicle,  and  in  eveiy  gem  of  hoarfrost  with  which  the 
objects  of  nature  were  loaded,  there  was,  however,  no 
perceptible  heat  in  his  rays.  They  fell  on  the  white  earth 
with  all  the  brightness  of  midsummer,  but  they  fell 
powerless  as  moonbeams  in  the  dead  of  winter. 

On  the  frozen  river,  just  in  front  of  the  gate  of  the 
fort,  a  group  of  men  and  dogs  were  assembled.  The  dogs 
were  four  in  number,  harnessed  to  a  small  flat  sledge  of 
the  slender  kind  used  by  Indians  to  drag  their  furs  and 
provisions  over  the  snow.  The  group  of  men  was  com- 
posed of  Mr  Rogan,  and  the  inmates  of  Bachelors'  Hall, 
one  or  two  men  who  happened  to  be  engaged  there  at  the 
time  in  cutting  a  new  water-hole  in  the  ice,  and  an 
Indian,  who,  to  judge  from  his  carefully  adjusted  costume, 
the  snow-shoes  on  his  feet,  and  the  short  whip  in  his 
hand,  was  the  driver  of  the  sledge,  and  was  about  to  start 
on  a  journey.  Harry  Somerville  and  young  Hamilton 
were  also  wrapped  up  more  carefully  than  usual. 

"  Good-bye,  then,  good-bye,"  said  Mr  Rogan,  advancing 
towards  the  Indian,  who  stood  beside  the  leading  dog, 
ready  to  start.  "Take  care  of  our  young  friends;  they've 
not  had  much  experience  in  travelling  yet  j  and  don't  over- 
drive your  dogs.  Treat  them  well  and  they'll  do  more 
work.  They're  like  men  in  that  respect."  Mr  Rogan 
shook  the  Indian  by  the  hand,  and  the  latter  immediately 
flourished  the  whip  and  gave  a  shout,  which  the  dogs  no 
sooner  heard  than  they  uttered  a  simultaneous  yell,  sprang 
forward  with  a  jerk,  and  scampered  up  the  river,  closely 
followed  by  their  dark-skinned  driver. 

**  Now,  lads,  farewell,"  said  the  old  gentlemen,  turning 


// 


l;i 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


311 


with  a  kiadly  smile  to  our  two  friends,  who  were  shaking 
hands  for  the  last  time  with  their  comrades.  "  I'm  sorry 
you're  going  to  leave  us,  my  boys.  You've  done  your 
duty  well  while  here,  and  I  would  willingly  have  kept  you 
a  little  longer  with  me,  but  our  governor  wills  it  other- 
wise. However,  I  trust  that  you'll  be  happy  wherever 
you  may  be  sent.  Don't  forget  to  write  to  me — God 
bless  you — farewell." 

Mr  Rogan  shook  them  heartily  by  the  hand,  turned 
short  round,  and  walked  slowly  up  to  his  house,  with  an 
expression  of  sadness  on  his  mild  face,  while  Hany  and 
Hamilton,  having  once  more  waved  farewell  to  their 
friends,  marched  up  the  river  side  by  side   in  silence. 
They  followed  the  track  left  by  the  dog-sledge,  which 
guided  them    with  unerring  certainty,   although  their 
Indian  leader  and  his  team  were  out  of  sight  in  advance. 
A  week  previous  to  this  time,  an  Indian  arrived  from 
the  interior,  bearing  a  letter  from  head-quarters,  which 
directed  that  Messrs  Somerville  and  Hamilton  should  be 
forthwith  despatched  on  snow-shoes  to  Norway  House. 
As  this  establishment  is  about  three  hundred  miles  from 
the  sea-coast,  the  orde ;  involved  a  journey  of  nearly  two 
weeks'  duration,   through    a   country  that  was  uttei'y 
destitute  of  inhabitants.     On  receiving  a  command  from 
Mr  Rogan  to  prepare  for  an  early  start,  Harry  retired  pre- 
cipitately to   his   own  room,   and  there,  after  cutting 
unheard-of  capers,  and  giving  vent  to  sudden  incompre- 
hensible shouts,  all  indicative  of  the  highest   state  of 
delight,   he  condescended  to  tell  his  companions  of  his 
good  fortune,  and  set  about  preparations  without  delay. 
Hamilton,  on  the  contrary,  gave  his  usual  quiet  smile  on 
being  informed  of  his  destination,  and,  returning  some- 


N 


312 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


what  pensively  to  Bachelors'  Hall,  proceeded  leisurely  to 
make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  departure.  As  the 
time  drew  on,  however,  a  perpetual  flush  on  his  counten- 
ance, and  an  unusual  brilliancy  about  his  eye,  shewed 
that  he  was  not  quite  insensible  to  the  pleasures  of  a 
change,  and  relished  the  idea  more  than  he  got  credit  for. 
The  Indian  who  had  brought  the  letter  was  ordered  to 
hold  himself  in  readiness  to  retrace  his  steps  and  conduct 
the  young  men  through  the  woods  to  Norway  House, 
where  they  were  to  await  further  orders.  A  few  days 
later,  the  tliree  travellers,  as  already  related,  set  out  on 
their  journey. 

After  walking  a  mile  up  the  river,  they  passed  a  point 
bf  land  which  shut  out  the  fort  from  view.  Here  they 
paused  to  take  a  last  look,  and  then  pressed  forward  in 
silence,  the  thoughts  of  each  being  busy  with  mingled 
recollections  of  their  late  home,  and  anticipations  of  the 
future.  After  an  hour's  sharp  walking  they  came  in  sight 
of  the  guide,  and  slackened  their  pace. 

"  Well,  Hamilton,"  said  Hany,  throwing  off  his  reverie 
with  a  deep  sigh,  "  are  you  glad  to  leave  York  Fort,  or 
sorry?" 

"Glad,  undoubtedly,"  replied  Hamilton,  "but  sorry 
to  part  from  our  old  companions  there.  I  had  no 
idea,  Harry,  that  I  loved  them  all  so  much;  I  feel  as  if  I 
should  be  glad  were  the  order  for  us  to  leave  them 
countermanded  even  now." 

.  "That's  the  very  thought,"  said  Harry,  "that  was 
passing  through  my  own  brain,  when  I  spoke  to  you. 
Yet,  somehow,  I  think  I  should  be  uncommonly  sorry, 
after  all,  if  we  were  really  sent  back.  There's  a  queer 
contradiction,  Hammy;   we're  sorry  and  happy  at  the 


7# 


FROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


313 


same  time !  If  I  were  the  skipper,  now,  I  would  found 
a  philosophical  argument  upon  it." 

"Which  the  skipper  would  carry  on  r.itli  untiring 
vigour,"  said  Hamilton,  smiling,  "  and  afterwards  make 
an  entry  of  in  his  log.  B'  I  think,  Harry,  that  to 
feel  the  emotion  of  sorrow  and  joy  at  the  same  time  is 
not  such  a  contradiction  as  it  at  first  appears." 

"  Perhaps  not,"  replied  Harry ;  "  but  it  seems  very 
contradictory  to  we,  and  yet,  it's  an  evident  fact — for  I'm 
very  sorry  to  leave  them,  and  I'm  very  happy  to  have  you 
for  my  companion  here." 

"  So  am  I,  so  am  I,"  said  the  other,  heartily.  "  1 
would  rather  travel  with  you,  Harry,  than  with  any  of 
our  late  companions — although  I  like  them  all  very 
much." 

The  two  friends  had  grown,  almost  imperceptibly,  in 
each  other's  esteem  during  their  residence  under  the  same 
roof,  more  than  either  of  them  would  have  believed  pos- 
sible. The  gay,  reckless  hilarity  of  the  one,  did  not  at 
first  accord  with  the  quiet  gravity,  and,  as  liis  comrades 
styled  it,  softness,  of  the  other.  But  character  is  frequently 
misjudged  at  fii*st  sight — and  someticaes  men,  who,  on 
a  first  acquaintance,  have  felt  repelled  from  each  other, 
have,  on  coming  to  know  each  other  better,  discovered 
traits  and  good  qualities  that,  ere  long,  formed  enduring 
bonds  of  sympathy,  and  have  learned  to  love  those  whoni 
at  first  they  felt  disposed  to  dislike  or  despise. .  Thus, 
Harry  soon  came  to  know  that  what  he  at  first  thought, 
and,  along  with  his  companions,  called,  softness  in  Ham- 
ilton, was  in  reality  gentleness  of  disposition,  and  thorough 
good-nature,  united  in  one  who  happened  to  be  utterly 
unacquainted  with  the  knowing  ways  of  this  peculiarly 


21 


•9>?. 


314 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


sliarp  and  clever  world ;  while,  in  the  course  of  time,  new 
qualities  shewed  themselves  in  a  quiet,  unobtrusive  way 
that  won  upon  his  affections  and  raised  his  esteem.  On 
the  other  hand,  Hamilton  found  tliat,  although  Hany  wa.s 
volatile,  and  possessed  of  an  irresistiblj  tendency  to  fun 
and  mischief,  he  never  by  any  chance  gave  way  to  anger, 
or  allov/ed  malice  to  enter  into  his  practical  jokes.  Indeed, 
lie  often  observed  him  restrain  his  natural  tendencies 
when  they  were  at  all  likely  to  give  pain — though  Iliury 
never  dreamed  that  such  efforts  were  known  to  any  one 
but  himsel£  Besides  this,  Harry  was  peculiarly  unselfish; 
and  when  a  man  is  possessed  of  this  inestimable  disposi- 
tion, he  is,  not  quite  but  vei'j/  nearlij,  perfect ! 

After  another  pause,  during  which  the  party  had  left 
the  open  river  and  directed  their  course  through  the 
woods,  where  the  depth  of  the  snow  obliged  them  to  tread 
in  each  others  footsteps,  Harry  resumed  the  conversation. 

"  You  have  not  yet  told  roe,  by  the  bye,  what  old  Mr 
llogan  said  to  you  just  before  we  started.  Did  he  give 
you  any  liint  as  to  where  you  might  be  sent  to  after 
reaching  Norway  House  ?  " 

"  No,  he  merely  said  he  knew  that  clerks  were  wanted 
both  for  Mackenzie  River  and  the  Saskatchewan  districts, 
but  he  did  not  know  which  I  was  destined  for." 

"  Hum  !  exactly  what  he  said  to  me,  with  the  slight 
addition  tliat  he  strongly  suspected  that  Mackenzie  River 
'.v'ould  be  my  doom.  Are  you  aware,  Haramy,  my  boy, 
that  the  Saskatchewan  district  is  a  sort  of  terrestrial 
paradise,  and  Mackiensie  River  equivalent  to  Botany 
]ky  ? " 

"  I  have  heard  as  much  during  our  convei*sations  in 
Bachelors'  Hall,  but Stop  a  bit,  Harry,  these  snow* 


M 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


315 


shoo  lines  of  mine  have  got  loosu netl  with  tearing  through 
tiiis  deep  snow,  and  these  shockingly  thick  bu.shes. 
There — they  are  right  now ;  go  on,  I  was  going  to  say 

that  I  don't oh  ! " 

This  last  exclamation  was  elicited  from  Hamilton  hy  a 
sharp  blow,  caused  by  a  branch  which,  catching  on  part 
of  Harry's  dress,  as  he  plodded  on  in  front,  suddenly  re- 
bounded and  struck  him  across  the  face.  This  is  of  com- 
mon occurrence  in  travelling  through  the  woods,  especially 
to  those  who,  from  inexperience,  walk  too  closely  on  the 
heels  of  thoir  companions. 

"  What's  wrong  now,  Hammy  1 "  inquired  his  friend, 
looking  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Oh,  nothing  worth  mentioning — rather  a  sharp  blow 
from  a  branch,  that's  all." 

"Well,  proceed;  you've  interrupted  yourself  twice  in 
what  you  were  going  to  say ; — perhaps  it'll  come  out  if 
you  try  it  a  third  time." 

"  I  was  merely  going  to  say,  that  I  don't  much  care 
where  I  am  sent  to,  so  long  as  it  is  not  to  an  outpost 
where  I  shall  be  all  alone." 

"  All  very  well,  my  friend ;  but,  seeing  that  outposts 
are,  in  comparison  with  princij)al  forts,  about  a  himdred 
to  one,  your  chance  of  avoiding  them  is  rather  slight. 
However,  our  youth  and  want  of  experience  is  in  our 
favour,  as  they  like  to  send  men  who  have  seen  some 
service  to  outposts.  But  I  fear  that,  with  such  brilliant 
characters  as  you  and  I,  Hammy,  youth  will  only  be  an 
additional  recommendation,  and  inexperience  won't  last 
long. — Hallo  !  what 's  going  on  yonder  1 " 

Harry  pointed  as  he  spoke  to  an  open  spot  in  the 
woods,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  advance,  where  a 


816 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


(lark  object  was  seen  lying  on  the  snow,  writhing  about, 
now  coiling  into  a  lump,  and  anon  extending  itself  like  a 
huge  snake  in  agony. 

As  the  two  friends  looked,  a  prolonged  howl  floated 
towards  them. 

"  Something  wrong  with  the  dogs,  I  declare  ! "  cried 
Harry.  ^ 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  replied  his  friend,  Inirrying  foi-ward, 
as  they  saw  their  Indian  guide  rise  from  the  ground  and 
flourish  his  whip  energetically,  while  the  howls  rapidly 
increased. 

A  few  minutes  brought  them  to  the  scene  of  action, 
where  they  found  the  dogs  engaged  in  a  fight  among 
themselves;  and  the  driver,  in  a  state  of  vehement  passion, 
alternately  belabouring  and  trying  to  separate  them.  Dogs 
in  these  regions,  like  the  dogs  of  all  other  regions,  we  sup- 
pose, are  very  much  addicted  to  fighting ;  a  propensity 
which  becomes  extremely  unpleasant,  if  indulged  while 
the  animals  are  in  harness,  as  they  then  become  peculiarly 
savage,  probably  from  their  being  unable,  like  an  ill- 
assorted  pair  in  wedlock,  to  cut  or  break  the  ties  that 
bind  them.  Moreover,  they  twist  the  traces  into  such 
an  ingeniously  complicated  mass,  that  it  renders  disen- 
tanglement almost  impossible,  even  after  exhaustion  has 
reduced  them  to  obedience.  Besides  this,  they  are  so 
absorbed  in  worrying  each  other,  that,  for  the  time,  they 
are  utterly  regardless  of  their  driver's  lash  or  voice. 
This  naturally  makes  the  driver  angry ;  and  sometimes 
irascible  men  practise  shameful  cruelties  on  the  poor 
dogs.  When  the  two  friends  came  up,  they  found  the 
Indian  glaring  at  the  animals,  as  they  fought  and  writhed 
in  the  snow,  with  every  lineament  of  his  swarthy  face 


1 1 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


317 


distorted  with  passion,  and  panting  from  his  lato  exer- 
tions. Suddenly  he  threw  himself  on  the  dogs  again, 
and  lashed  them  furiously  with  the  whip.  Finding 
that  this  had  no  effect,  he  twined  the  lash  round  his  hand, 
and  struck  tliem  violently  over  their  heads  and  snouts 
with  the  handle ;  then,  fulling  down  on  his  knees,  he 
caught  the  most  savage  of  the  animals  by  the  throat,  and 
seizing  its  nose  between  his  teeth,  almost  bit  it  off.  The 
appalling  yell  that  followed  this  cruel  act  seemed  to 
subdue  the  dogs,  for  they  ceased  to  fight,  and  crouched, 
whining,  in  the  snow. 

With  a  bound  like  a  tiger,  young  Hamilton  sprang 
upon  the  guide,  and,  seizing  him  by  the  throat,  hurled 
him  ^'iolently  to  the  ground.  "  Scoundrel ! "  he  cried, 
standing  over  the  crestfallen  Indian  with  flushed  face  and 
flashing  eyes,  "  how  dare  you  thus  treat  the  creatures  of 
God?" 

The  young  man  would  have  spoken  more,  but  his 
indiffnation  was  so  fierce  that  it  could  not  find  vent  in 
words.  For  a  moment  he  raised  his  fist,  as  if  he  medi- 
tated dashing  the  Indian  again  to  the  ground  as  he 
slowly  alrose;  then,  as  if  changing  his  mind,  he  seized  him 
l)y  the  back  of  the  neck,  thrust  him  towards  the  panting 
dogs,  and  stood  in  silence  over  him  with  the  whip  grasped 
firmly  in  his  hand,  while  he  disentangled  the  tnices. 

This  accomplished,  Hamilton  ordered  him,  in  a  voice  of 
suppressed  anger,  to  "  go  forward  " — an  order  which  the 
cowed  guide  promptly  obeyed — and,  in  a  few  minutes 
more,  the  two  friends  were  again  alone. 

"  Hamilton,  my  boy,"  exclaimed  Harry,  who,  up  to 
this  moment,  seemed  to  have  been»  petrified,  "  you  have 
l)ertectly  amazed  me  !     I'm  utterly  bewildered." 


t 


318 


8N0WFLAKES  AND  SUMJCAMS 


"  Indeed,  I  fear  that  I  have  been  very  violent,"  said 
Hamilton,  blusliing  deeply. 

"  Violent !  "  exelainied  hi«  friend.  "  Why,  man,  I've 
completely  mistaken  your  character.     I,  I " 

"  I  hope  not,  Harry,"  said  Hamilton,  in  a  subdued 
tone ;  "  I  lioi)e  not.  Believe  me,  I  am  not  naturally 
violent  j  I  should  be  very  soiTy  were  you  to  think  so. 
Indeed,  I  never  felt  thus  before,  and,  now  that  it  is  over, 
I  am  itmazed  at  myself;  but  surely  you'll  admit  that 
there  was  great  provocation.  Such  terrible  cruelty 
to " 

"  My  dear  fellow,  you  quite  misunderstand  me.  I'm 
amazed  at  your  pluck,  your  energy.  Softj  indeed  !  we 
liave  been  most  egregiously  mistaken.  Provocation  !  I 
just  think  you  had  ;  my  only  sorrow  is,  that  you  didn't 
give  him  a  little  more." 

"  Come,  come,  Harry  j  I  see  you  would  be  as  cruel  to 
him,  as  he  was  to  the  poor  dog.  Biit  let  us  press  for- 
ward ;  it  is  already  gi'owing  dark,  and  we  must  not  let 
the  fellow  out  of  sight  a-head  of  us." 

"Allans  donc,^'  cried  Harry;  and,  hasltening  their 
steps,  they  travelled  silently  and  rapidly  among  the  stems 
of  the  trees,  while  tlie  shades  of  night  gathered  slowly 
round  them. 

That  night,  the  three  trfivellers  encamped  in  the  snow, 
under  the  shelter  'of  a  spreading  pine.  The  encampment 
was  formed  ahnost  exactly  in  a  similar  manner  to  that  in 
which  they  had  slept  on  the  night  of  their  exploits  at 
North  River.  They  talked  less,  however,  than  on  that 
occasion,  and  slept  moi*e  soundly.  Before  retiring  to  rest, 
and  while  Harry  was  extended,  half-asleep  and  half-awake, 
on  his  green  blanket,  enjoying  the  delightful  repose  that 


FROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


319 


follows  a  lianl  dny's  inarch  and  a  good  supper,  IlauiUton 
drew  Tiear  to  the  Indian,  who  sat  sullenly  sinoking,  a  little 
apart  from  the  young  men.  Sitting  down  beside  him, 
ho  administered  a  long  rebuke,  in  a  low,  grave  tone  of 
voice.  Like  rebukes  generally,  it  had  tho  effect  of 
making  tho  visage  of  the  Indian  still  m'^ro  sulh.a.  But; 
the  young  man  did  not  appear  to  notice  *his;  he  svll 
continued  to  talk.  As  ho  went  on,  the  jouk  gvov.'  less- 
iind  less  sullen,  until  it  faded  entirely  away,  anit  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  grave,  quiet,  respectful  expression  j/cculi/j. 
to  the  face  of  the  North  American  Indian, 

Day  succeeded  day,  night  followed  n:gl.t,  and  still 
found  them  plodding  laboriously  tluoiigh  tlio  w»  vy 
waste  of  snow,  or  encamping  \inder  the  trees  of  the  ^'  r«ibt 
The  two  friends  went  through  all  the  varied  Etaf';eti  of 
experience  which  are  included  in  whai;  is  called  ''  becom- 
ing used  to  the  work,"  which  is  sometim.'s  a  modified 
meaning  of  the  expression,  "  used  up."  They  ptwted 
with  a  degree  of  vigour  that  one  would  have  thought  no 
amount  of  hard  work  could  possibly  abate.  They  became 
aware  of  the  melancholy  fact,  that  fatigue  uns'-rings  the 
youngest  and  toughest  sinews.  They  pressed  on,  hov\- 
ever,  from  stern  necessity,  and  found,  to  t'leir  deligiit, 
that  young  muscles  recover  their  elasticity,  even  in  the 
midst  of  severe  exei'tion.  They  rIM  |«r.5sscd  on,  and 
discovered,  to  their  dismay,  that  +Ms  recovery  was  only 
temporaiy,  and  that  the  s-n  ;nnd  state  of  exhaustion  was 
infinitely  "w^orse  thr-ti  llie  first.  Still  they  pressed  on, 
and  raised  blistei-s  on  their  feet  and  toes,  that  caused 
them  to  limp  wofully ;  then  they  learned  that  blistei-s 
break,  and  take  a  long  time  to  heal,  and  are  much  worse 
to  walk  upon  during  the  healing  process  than  they  are 


f. 


320 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


at.  tlie  commencement, — at  which  time  they  innocently 
fancied  that  nothing  could  be  more  dreadful.  Still  they 
pressed  on,  day  after  day,  and  found,  to  their  satisfaction, 
that  such  things  can  be  endured  and  overcome, — that  feet 
and  toes  can  become  hard  like  leather,  that  muscles  can 
grow  tough  as  India-rubber,  and  that  spirits  and  energy 
can  attain  to  a  pitch  of  endurance  which  nothing  witliin 
the  compass  of  a  day's  march  can  by  any  possibility  over- 
come. They  found  also,  from  expert '^^ce,  that  their  con- 
versation changed,  both  in  manner  and  subject,  as  they 
progi'essed  on  their  journey.  At  fii'st  they  conversed  fre- 
quently, and  on  various  topics,  chiefly  on  the  probability 
of  their  being  sent  to  pleasant  places,  or  the  reverse.  Then 
they  spoke  less  frequently,  and  growled  occasionally,  as 
they  advanced  in  the  painful  process  of  ti-aining.  After 
that,  as  they  began  to  get  hardy,  they  talked  of  the  trees, 
the  snow,  the  ice,  the  tracks  of  wild  animals  they  happened 
to  cross,  and  the  objects  of  nature  generally  tliat  came 
under  their  observation.  Then,  as  their  muscles  hardened, 
and  their  sinews  grew  tougli,  and  the  day's  march  at 
length  became,  first,  a  matter  of  indifference,  and,  ulti- 
mately, an  absolute  pleasure,  they  chatted  cheerfully  on 
any  and  every  subject,  or  sang  occasionally,  when  tlio 
sun  shone  out,  and  cast  an  appearance  of  warmth  across 
their  path.  Thus  onward  they  pressed,  without  halt  or 
stay,  day  after  day,  through  wood  and  brake,  over  river 
and  lake,  on  ice  and  on  snow,  for  miles  and  miles  together, 
through  the  great,  uninhabited,  frozen  wilderness. 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NORTIt. 


321 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


Hopes  and  fears;  an  unexpected  meeting;  philosophical  talk  between  the 
hunter  and  the  parson. 

On  arriving  at  Norway  House,  Harry  Somerville  and  liia 
friend  Hamilton  found  that  tliey  were  to  remain  at  that 
establishment  during  an  indefinite  period  of  time,  until 
it  should  please  those  in  whose  hands  their  ultimate  des- 
tination lay,  to  direct  them  how  and  where  to  proceed. 
This  was  an  unlooked-for  trial  of  their  patience ;  but, 
after  the  first  exclamation  of  disappointment,  they  made 
up  their  minds,  like  wise  men,  to  think  no  more  about 
it,  but  bide  their  time,  and  make  the  most  of  present 
circumstances. 

"  You  see,"  remarked  Hamilton,  as  the  two  friends, 
after  having  had  an  audience  of  the  gentleman  in  charge 
of  the  establishment,  sauntered  towards  the  rocks  that 
ovcrliang  the  margin  of  T>laygreen  Lake,  "  you  see,  it  is 
of  no  use  to  fret  about  what  we  cannot  possibly  help. 
Nobody  within  three  hundred  miles  of  us  knows  where 
wo  are  destined  to  spend  next  winter.  Perhaps  orders 
may  come  in  a  couple  of  weeks,  perha})s  in  a  couple  of 
months,  but  they  will  certainly  come  at  last.  Anyhow, 
it  is  of  no  use  thinking  about  it,  so  we  had  better  forget 
it,  and  make  the  best  of  things  as  we  find  them." 

"  Ah  !"  exclaimed  Hany,   "  your  advice  is,  that  we 


'S 


r  I 


322 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


should  by  all  means  be  happy,  and  if  we  can't  be  happy, 
be  as  happy  as  we  can.     Is  that  it  ? "  v 

"  Just  so.     That's  it  exactly." 

"  Ho !  But  then,  you  see,  Hammy,  you're  a  philosopher, 
and  I'm  not,  and  that  makes  all  the  difference.  I'm  not 
given  to  anticipating  evil,  but  I  cannot  help  dreading 
that  they  will  send  me  to  some  lonely,  swampy,  out-of- 
the-way  hole,  where  there  will  be  no  society,  no  shooting, 
no  riding,  no  work  even,  to  speak  of, — nothing,  in  fact, 
but  the  miserable  satisfaction  of  being  styled  *  bourgeois' 
by  five  or  six  men,  wretched  outcasts  like  myself." 

"  Come,  Harry,"  cried  Hamilton,  "  you  are  taking  the 

very  worst  view  of  it.      There  certainly  are   plenty  of 

isuch  outposts  in  the  country,  but  you  know  very  well 

that  young  fellows  like   you  are   seldom   sent  to   such 

places." 

"I  don't  know  that,"  interrupted  Harry;  "there's 
young  M'Andrew ;  he  was  sent  to  an  outpost  up  the 
Mackenzie  his  second  year  in  the  service,  where  he  was 
all  but  starved,  and  had  to  live  for  about  two  weeks  on 
boiled  parchment.  Then  there's  poor  Forrester ;  he  was 
shipped  off  to  a  place — the  name  of  which  I  never  could 
remember — somewhere  between  the  head  waters  of  the 
Athabasca  Lake  and  the  North  Pole.  To  be  sure,  he 
had  good  shooting,  I'm  told,  but  he  had  only  four  labour- 
ing men  to  enjoy  it  with ;  and  he  has  been  there  tm 
years  now,  and  he  has  more  than  once  had  to  scrape  the 
rocks  of  that  detestable  stuff  called  triipe  de  roche  to  keep 
himself  alive.     And  then  there's " 

"  Very  true,"  interrupted  Hamilton  ;  "  then  there's 
your  friend  Charles  Kennedy,  whom  you  so  often  talk 
about,  and  many  other  young  fellows  we  know,  who  h&vo 


.li- 


r.\ 


PROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


323 


been  sent  to  the  Saskatchewan,  a  la  to  the  Columbia, 
and  to  Athabasca,  and  to  a  hos*.  of  other  capital 
places,  where  they  have  enough  of  society — male  society, 
at  least — and  good  sport." 

The  young  men  had  climbed  a  rocky  eminence,  which 
commanded  a  view  of  the  lake  on  the  one  side,  and  the  fort, 
with  its  background  of  woods,  on  the  other.  Here  they 
sat  down  on  a  stone,  and  continued  for  some  time  to 
admire  the  scene  in  silence. 

"  Yes,"  said  Harry,  resuming  the  thread  of  discourse, 
"  you  are  right ;  we  have  a  good  chance  of  seeing  some 
pleasant  parts  of  the  country.  But  suspense  is  not  plea- 
sant. Oh,  man,  if  they  would  only  send  me  up  the 
Saskatchewan  river !  I've  set  my  heart  upon  going 
there.  I'm  quite  sure  it's  the  very  best  place  in  the 
whole  country." 

"  You've  told  the  truth  that  time,  master,"  said  a  deep 
voice  behind  them. 

The  young  men  turned  quickly  round.  Close  beside 
them,  and  leaning  composedly  on  a  long  Indian  fowling- 
piece,  stood  a  tall,  broad-shouldered,  sun-burnt  man, 
apparently  about  forty  years  of  age.  He  Wiis  dressed  in 
the  usual  leathern  hunting  coat,  cloth  leggins,  fur  cap, 
mittens,  and  moccasins,  that  constitute  the  winter  garb  of 
a  hunter ;  and  had  a  gi*ave,  firm,  but  good-humoured  ex- 
pression of  countenance. 

"  You've  told  the  truth  that  time,  master,"  he  repeated, 
without  moving  from  his  place.  "  The  Saskatchewan  is, 
to  my  mind,  the  best  place  in  the  wbole  country,  and 
liavin'  seen  a  considerable  deal  o'  places  in  my  time,  I  can 
speak  from  experience." 

"  Indeed,  friend,"  said  Harry,  "  I'm  glad  to  hear  you 


324 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


say  so.  Come,  sit  down  beside  us,  and  let's  hear  some- 
thing about  it. 

Thus  invited,  the  hunter  seated  himself  on  a  stone,  and 
laid  his  gun  on  the  hollow  of  his  left  arm. 

"  Fii-st  of  all,  friend,"  continued  Harry,  "  do  you 
belong  to  the  fort  here  V*  r  ■ 

"  No,"  replied  the  man,  "  I'm  stayin'  here  just  now,  but 
I  don't  belong  to  the  place." 

"  Where  do  you  come  from,  then ;  and  what's  your 
name  1 " 

"  Why,  I've  comed  d'rect  from  the  Saskatchewan  with 
a  packet  o'  letters.  I'm  payin'  a  visit  to  the  missionary 
village,  yonder  ; "  the  hunter  pointed,  as  he  spoke,  across 
the  lake;  "  and  when  the  ice  breaks  up  I  shall  get  a  canoe 
and  return  again." 

"  And  your  name  ?  " 

"  Why  I've  got  four  or  five  names.  Somehow  or  other, 
l)eople  have  given  me  a  nickname  wherever  I  ha'  chanced 
to  go.  But  my  true  name,  and  the  one  I  hail  by  just 
now,  is  Jacques  Caradoc." 

"  Jacques  Caradoc !"  exclaimed  Hany,  starting  with  sur- 
prise. "You  knew  a.  Charley  Kennedy  in  the  Saskat- 
chewan, did  you  1 " 

"  That  did  I.     As  fine  a  lad  as  ever  pulled  a  trigger." 

"  Give  us  your  hand,  friend,"  exclaimed  Hany,  spring- 
ing foi-waid  and  seizing  the  hunter's  large,  hard  fist  in 
both  hands.  "  Why,  man,  Charley  is  my  dearest  friend, 
and  I  had  a  letter  from  him  some  time  ago,  in  which  he 
speaks  of  you,  and  says  you're  one  of  the  best  fellows  he 
ever  met." 

"You  don't  say  so,"  replied  the  hunter,  returning 
Harry's  grasp  warmly,  while  his  eyes  sparkled  with  plea- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


325 


sure,  and  a  quiet  smile  played  at  the  comers  of  liis 
mouth. 

"  Yes  I  do,"  said  Harry,  "  and  I'm  very  nearly  as  glad 
to  meet  witJi  you,  friend  Jacques,  as  I  would  be  to  meet 
with  him.  But  come.  It's  cold  work  talking  here.  Let's  go 
to  my  room.  There's  a  fire  in  the  stove.  Come  along, 
Hammy,"  and  taking  his  new  friend  by  the  arm,  he  hur- 
ried him  along  to  his  quarters  in  the  fort. 

Just  as  they  were  passing  under  the  fort  gate,  a  large 
mass  of  snow  became  detached  from  a  house-top,  and  fell 
heavily  at  their  feet,  passing  within  an  inch  of  Hamilton's 
nose.  The  young  man  started  back  with  an  exclamation, 
and  became  very  red  in  the  face. 

"  Hallo  ! "  cried  Harry,  laughing,  "  got  a  fright,  Ham- 
my ?  That  went  so  close  to  your  chin,  that  it  almost  saved 
you  the  ti  ouble  of  shaving." 

"  Yes,  [  got  a  little  fright  from  the  suddenness  of  it," 
said  Hamilton,  quietly. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  my  friend  there  1 "  said  Harry 
to  Jacques,  in  a  low  voice,  pointing  to  Hamilton,  who 
walked  on  in  advance. 

"  I've  not  seen  much  of  Mm,  master,"  replied  the  hun- 
ter. "  Had  I  been  asked  the  same  question  about  the 
fame  lad  twenty  years  agon^  I  should  ha'  said  he  was  soft, 
and  perhaps  chicken-heai-ted.  But  I've  learned  from  ex- 
perience to  judge  better  than  I  used  to  do.  I  niver  thinks 
o'  formin'  an  opinion  o'  any  one  till  I've  seen  them  called 
to  sudden  action.  It's  astonishin'  how  some  faint-hearted 
men  will  come  to  face  a  danger,  and  put  on  an  awful  look 
o'  courage,  if  they  only  get  wamin' — but  take  them  by 
surprise  ;  that's  the  way  to  try  them," 

"  Well,   Jacques,  that  is  the  very  reason  why  1  a^k 


^Hr-' 


326 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMa 


your  opinion  of  Hamilton.  He  was  pretty  well  taken  by 
surprise  that  time,  I  think." 

"  True,  master,  but  that  kind  o'  start  don't  prove  much. 
Hows'ever,  I  don't  think  he's  easy  upset.  He  does  look 
uncommon  soft,  and  his  face  grew  red  when  the  snow  fell, 
but  his  eyebrow  and  his  under  lip  shewed  that  it  wasn't 
from  fear." 

During  that  afternoon  and  the  greater  pai-t  of  that 
night  the  three  friends  continued  in  close  conversation, 
Harry  sitting  in  front  of  the  stove,  with  his  hands  in  his 
pockets,  on  a  chair  tilted  as  usual  on  its  hind  legs,  and 
pouring  out  volleys  of  questions,  which  were  pithily  an- 
swered by  the  good-huirjoured,  loquacious  hunter,  who  sat 
behind  the  stove,  resting  his  elbows  on  his  knees,  and 
smoking  his  much-loved  pipe;  while  Hamilton  reclined 
on  Hai'ry's  bed,  and  listened  with  eager  avidity  to  anec- 
dotes and  stories,  which  seemed,  like  the  narrator's  pipe, 
to  be  inexhaustible. 

"  (Jood  night,  Jacques,  good  night,"  said  Harry,  as  the 
latter  rose  at  last  to  depart,  "  I'm  delighted  to  have  had  a 
talk  with  you.  You  must  come  back  to-morrow.  I  want 
to  hear  more  about  your  friend  Redfeather.  "Where  did 
you  say  you  left  him  ?  " 

"  In  the  Saskatchewan,  master.  He  said  that  he  would 
wait  there,  as  he'd  lieer'd  the  missionary  was  comiu'  up 
to  pay  the  Injins  a  visit." 

"  By  the  bye,  you're  going  over  to  the  missionary's 
place  to-morrow,  are  you  not  1 " 

"  Yes,  I  am." 

"  Ah  !  then,  that'll  do.  I'll  go  over  with  you.  How 
far  off  is  it  ? " 

'^  Three  miles,  or  thereabouts." 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


327 


'•'  Very  good.  Call  in  here  aa  you  pass,  and  my  friend 
Ifamilton  and  I  will  accompany  you.     Good  night." 

Jacques  thrust  his  pipe  into  his  bosom,  held  out  his 
homy  hand,  and  giving  his  young  friends  a  hearty  shake, 
turned  and  strode  from  the  room. 

On  the  following  day,  Jacques  called,  according  to  pro- 
mise, and  the  three  friends  set  off  together  to  visit  the 
Indian  village.     This  missionary  station  was  under  the 
management  of  a  Wesleyan  clergyman.  Pastor  Conway 
by  name,  an  excellent  man,  of  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  with  an  enei-getic  mind  and  body,  a  bald  head,  a 
mild,  expressive  countenance,  and  a  robust  constitution. 
He  was  admirably  qualified  for  his  position,  having  a 
natural  aptitude  for  every  sort  of  work  that  man  is  usually 
called  on  to  perform.     His  chief  care  was  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  the   Indians,    whom  he  had  induced   to   settle 
around  him,   in  the  great  and  all-important  truths   of 
Christianity.     He  invented  an  aljAabet,  and  taught  them 
to  write  and  read  their  own  language.     He  commenced 
the  laborious  task  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the 
Cree  language;   and,  being  an   excellent  musician,  he 
instructed  his  converts  to  sing  in  parts  the  psalms  and 
Wesleyan     hymns,     many   of   which    are    exceedingly 
beautiful.     A  school  was  also  established,  and  a  church 
built,  under  his  superintendence,  so   that  the   natives 
assembled,  in  an  orderly  way,  in  a  commodious  sanctuary, 
every  Sabbath-day,  to  worship  God ;  while  the  children 
were  instructed,  not  only  in  the  Scriptures,  and  made 
familiar  with  the  nan*ative  of  the  humiliation  and  exalt- 
ation of  our  blessed  Saviour,  but  were  also  taught  the 
elementary  brandies  of  a  secular  education.     But  good 
Pastor  Conway's;  cnei^gy  did  not  stop  here.    '  Nature  had 


328 


SNOW  FLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


gifted  him  with  that  peculiar  genius  which  is  powerfully 
expressed  in  the  term,  "  a  jack-of-all-t7'ades"  He  could 
turn  his  hand  to  anything ;  and  being,  as  we  have  said, 
an  energetic  man,  he  did  turn  his  hand  to  almost  every- 
thing. If  anything  happened  to  get  broken,  the  pastor 
could  either  mend  it  himself,  or  direct  how  it  was  to  be 
done.  If  a  house  was  to  be  built  for  a  new  family  of 
red  men,  who  had  never  handled  a  saw  or  hammer  in 
their  lives,  and  had  lived  up  to  that  time  in  tents,  the 
pastor  lent  a  hand  to  begin  it,  drew  out  the  plan  (not  a 
veiy  complicated  thing,  certainly),  set  them  fairly  at 
work,  and  kept  his  eye  on  it  until  it  was  finished.  In 
short,  the  worthy  pastor  was  everything  to  everybody, 
"that  by  all  means  he  might  gain  some." 

Under  such  management,  the  village  flourished,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  although  it  did  not  increase  very  rapidly, 
owing  to  the  almost  unconquerable  avereion  of  North 
Amercian  Indians  to  take  up  a  settled  habitation. 

It  was  to  this  little  hamlet,  then,  that  our  three 
friends  directed  their  steps.  On  arriving,  they  found 
Pastor  Conway  in  a  sort  of  workshop,  giving  directions  to 
an  Indian,  who  stood  with  a  soldering-iron  in  one  hand, 
and  a  sheet  of  tin  in  the  other,  which  he  was  about  to 
apply  to  a  curious-looking  half-finished  machine,  that  bore 
some  resemblance  to  a  canoe. 

"  All,  my  friend  Jacques  !"  he  exclaimed,  as  the  hunter 
approached  him,  "  the  very  man  I  wished  to  see ;  but  I 
beg  pardon,  gentlemen, — strangers,  I  perceive.  You  are 
heartily  welcome.  It  is  seldom  that  I  have  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  new  friends  in  my  wild  dwelling.  Pray  come 
with  me  to  my  house." 

Pastor  Conway  shook  hands  with  Harry  and  Hamilton 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


329 


with  a  dcgi'ee  of  warmth  that  evinced  the  sincerity  of  his 
words.  The  young  men  thanked  him,  and  accepted  the 
invitation.  ' 

As  they  turned  to  quit  the  workshop,  the  pastor 
observed  Jacques'  eye  fixed,  with  a  puzzled  expression  of 
countenance,  on  his  canoe. 

"  You  have  never  seen  anything  like  that  before,  I 
dare  say,"  said  he,  with  a  smile. 

"  No,  sir ;  I  never  did  see  such  a  queer  machine  afore." 

"  It  is  a  tin  canoe,  with  which  I  hope  to  pass  tlirough 
many  miles  of  country  this  spring,  on  my  way  to  visit  a 
tribe  of  Northern  Indians  ;  and  it  was  about  tliis  very 
thing  that  I  wanted  to  see  you,  my  friend." 

Jacques  made  no  reply,  but  cast  a  look  savouring  very 
slightly  of  contempt  on  the  unfinished  canoe  as  they 
turned  and  went  away. 

The  pastor's  dwelling  stood  at  one  end  of  the  village, 
a  view  of  which  it  commanded  from  the  back  windows, 
while  those  in  front  overlooked  the  lake.  It  was  plea- 
santly situated,  and  pleasantly  tenanted,  for  the  pastor's 
■wife  was  a  cheerful,  active,  little  lady,  like-minded  with 
himself,  and  delighted  to  receive  and  entertain  strangersi. 
To  her  care  Mr  Conway  consigned  the  young  men,  after 
spending  a  short  time  in  conversation  with  them ;  and 
then,  requesting  his  wife  to  shew  them  through  the  village, 
lie  took  Jacques  by  the  arm,  and  sauntered  out. 

"  Come  with  me,  Jacques,"  he  began,  "  I  have  some- 
what to  say  to  you.  I  had  not  time  to  broach  the  subject 
when  I  met  you  at  the  Company's  fort,  and  have  been 
anxious  to  see  you  ever  since.  You  tell  me  that  you 
have  met  with  my  friend  Redfeather  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  spent  a  week  or  two  with  him  last  fall. 

22 


f 


•4f 

.■!»■ 


330 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SINIIKAMS 


I  fouD(l  him  stayin'  with  his  tribo,  and  wo  started  io 
come  down  here  together." 

"  Ah  !  that  is  the  very  point,"  exclaimed  the  pastor, 
"  that  I  wislied  to  inquire  about."  I  firmly  believe  that 
God  has  opened  that  Indian's  eyes  to  see  the  truth ;  and 
I  fully  expected,  from  what  he  said  when  we  last  met, 
that  he  would  have  made  up  his  mind  to  come  and  stay 
here." 

"  As  to  what  the  Almighty  has  done  to  him,"  said 
Jacques,  in  a  reverential  tone  of  voice,  "  I  don't  pretend 
to  know ;  he  did  for  sartin  speak  and  act  too  in  a  way  that 
I  never  seed  an  Injin  do  before; — but,  about  his  comin' 
here,  sir,  you  were  quite  right;  he  did  mean  to  come, 
and  I've  no  doubt  will  come  yet." 

"  What  prevented  him  coming  with  you,  as  you  tell 
me  he  intended?"  inquired  the  pastor. 

"  Well,  you  see,  sir,  he,  and  I,  and  his  squaw,  as  I  said, 
set  off  to  come  here  together,  but  when  we  got  the  lengtli 
o'  Edmonton  House,  we  heerd  that  you  were  comin'  up  to 
pay  a  visit  to  the  tribe  to  which  Redfeather  bdongs; 
and  so  seein'  that  it  was  o'  no  use  to  come  down  here- 
away just  to  turn  about  an'  go  up  agin,  he  stopped 
there  to  wait  fov  you,  for  he  knew  you  would  want  him 
to  interpret " 

"Ay,"  interrupted  the  pastor,  "that's  true.  I  have 
two  reasons  for  wishing  to  have  him  here.  The  primary 
one  is,  that  he  may  get  good  to  his  immortal  soul ;  and 
then,  he  understands  English  so  well,  that  I  want  him  to 
become  my  interpreter ;  for,  although  I  vnderstand  the 
Cree  language  pretty  well  now,  I  find  it  exceedingly 
difficult  to  explain  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  to  my  people 
in  it.     But  pardon  me,  I  interrupted  you." 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


331 


"  I  was  only  going  to  say,"  resumed  Jacques,  "  that  I 
made  up  my  mind  to  stay  with  liim  ;  but  they  wanted  a 
man  to  bring  the  winter  packet  here  ;  so,  as  they  pressed 
me  very  hard,  an'  I  liad  nothin'  particuhir  to  do,  I  'greed 
and  came  ;  though  I  wouKl  rather  ha'  stopped,  for  Red- 
foather  an'  I  lia'  stnick  up  a  friendship  togitlier, — a  thing 
that  I  would  niver  ha'  thought  it  poss'ble  for  me  to  do 
with  a  red  Injin." 

"  And  why  not  with  a  red  Indian,  friend  1 "  inquired 
the  pastor,  while  a  shade  of  sadness  passed  over  his  mild 
features,  as  if  unpleasant  thoughts  had  been  roused  by  the 
hunter's  speech. 

"Well,  it's  not  easy  to  say  why,"  rejoined  the  other, 
"  I've  no  partic'lar  objection  to  the  redskins.  There's 
only  one  man  among  them  that  I  bears  a  grudge  agin, 
and  even  that  one  I'd  rayther  avoid  than  otherwise." 

"  But  you  should  forgive  him,  Jacques  ;  the  Bible  tells 
us  not  only  to  bear  our  enemies  no  grudge,  but  to  love 
them  and  to  do  them  good." 

The  hunter's  brow  darkened.  "  That's  imjwssible,  sir," 
he  said ;  "  I  couldn't  do  hin  a  good  turn  if  I  was  to  try 
ever  so  hard.  He  may  bless  his  stars  that  I  don't  want 
to  do  him  mischief;  but  to  love  him,  it's  jist  imposs'ble." 

"  With  man  it  is  impossible,  but  with  God  all  things 
are  possible,"  said  the  pastor,  solemnly. 

Jacques'  naturally  philosophic,  though  untutored  mind, 
saw  the  force  of  this.  He  felt  that  God,  who  had  formed 
his  soul,  his  body,  and  the  wonderfully  complicated  ma- 
cliinery  and  objects  of  nature,  which  were  patent  to  his 
observant  and  reflective  mind  wherever  he  went,  must,  of 
necessity,  be  equally  able  to  alter,  influence,  and  re-mould 
tliem  all  according  to  his  wilL     Common  sense  was  suf- 


'!%.■ 


^ 


*- 

# 
r 


332 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


ficioTit  to  teacli  him  this ;  and  the  bohl  hiinter  exhihitcil 
no  ordinary  amount  of  common  sense  in  admitting  the  fact 
at  onco ;  although,  in  the  case  \inder  discussion,  (tlio  loving 
of  his  enemy),  it  sc(!mod  utterly  irapossiblo  to  his  feelings 
and  experience.  The  frown,  therefore,  passed  from  his 
brow,  while  he  said  res[)ectfully, "  What  you  say,  sir,  is 
true  ;  I  believe,  though  I  can't  fid  it.  But  I  s'pose  the 
reason  I  nivcr  felt  much  drawn  to  the  redskins  is,  that 
all  the  time  I  lived  in  the  settlements,  I  was  used  to  hear 
them  called  and  treated  as  thievin'  dogs,  an'  when  I  com'd 
among  them  I  didn't  see  much  to  alter  my  opinion.  Here 
an'  tliere  I  have  found  one  or  two  honest  Injins,  an'  Red- 
feather  is  as  true  as  steel ;  but  the  most  o'  them  are  no 
better  than  they  should  be.  I  s'pose  T  don't  think  much 
o'  them  just  because  they  are  redskins." 

"  Ah,  Jacques,  you  will  excuse  me  if  I  say  that  there  is 
not  much  sense  in  that  reason.  An  Indian  cannot  help 
being  a  red  man  any  more  than  you  can  help  being  a 
white  one,  so  that  he  oiight  not  to  be  despised  on  that 
account.  Besides,  God  made  him  what  he  is,  and  to  de- 
spise the  vjork  of  God,  or  to  undervalue  it,  is  to  despise 
God  himself.  You  may  indeed  despise,  or  i*ather,  abhor, 
the  sins  that  red  men  are  guilty  of  j  but  if  you  despise 
them  on  this  ground,  you  must  much  more  despise  white 
men,  for  they  are  guilty  of  greater  iniquities  than  Indians 
are.  They  have  more  knowledge,  and  are  therefore  more 
inexcusable  when  they  sin  ;  and  any  one  who  has  travelled 
much  must  be  aware,  that,  in  regard  to  general  wickedness, 
white  men  are  at  least  quite  as  bad  as  Indians.  Depend 
upon  it,  Jacques,  that  there  will  be  Indians  found  in 
heaven  at  the  last  day  as  well  as  white  men,  God  is  no 
respecter  of  persons." 


niOM  THE  FAR  NOHTII. 


333 


"I  niver  thought  much  on  that  subject  afore,  sir," 
roturnod  the  hunter ;  "  what  you  say  seems  reasonable 
<  iiougli.  I'm  sure  an'  sartin,  any  way,  that  if  there's  a 
redskin  in  heaven  at  all,  Redfeather  will  bo  there,  an'  I 
only  hope  that  I  may  bo  there  too  to  keep  him  company." 

**  I  hope  so,  my  friend,"  said  the  pastor,  earnestly,  "  I 
hope  so  too,  with  all  my  heart.  And  if  you  will  accept  of 
this  little  book,  it  will  shew  you  how  to  get  there." 

The  missionary  drew  a  small,  plainly-bound  co|»y  of  the 
Bible  from  his  pocket,  as  he  spoke,  and  presented  it  to 
Jacques,  who  received  it  with  a  smile,  and  thanked  him ; 
saying,  at  the  same  time,  that  ho  "  was  not  much  up  to 
book-larnin',  but  he  would  read  it  with  pleasure." 

"Now,  Jacques,"  said  the  pastor,  after  a  little  farther 
conversation  on  the  subject  of  the  Bible,  in  which  ho 
endeavoured  to  impress  upon  him  the  absolute  necessity 
of  being  acquainted  with  the  blessed  truths  which  it  con- 
tains— "Now,  Jacques,  about  my  visit  to  the  Indians. 
I  intend,  if  the  Almighty  spares  me,  to  embark  in  yon  tin 
canoe  that  you  found  me  engaged  with,  and,  with  six 
men  to  work  it,  proceed  to  the  country  of  the  Knisteneux 
lutlians,  visit  their  chief  camp,  and  preach  to  them  there 
as  long  as  the  weather  will  permit.  When  the  season  is 
pretty  well  advanced  and  winter  threatens  to  cut  off  my 
retreat,  I  shall  re-embark  in  my  canoe  and  return  home. 
By  this  means  I  hope  to  be  able  to  sow  the  good  seed  of 
Christian  truth  in  the  hearts  of  men,  who,  as  they  will  not 
come  to  this  settlement,  have  no  chance  of  being  brought 
under  the  power  of  the  gospel  by  any  other  means." 

Jacques  gave  one  of  his  quiet  smiles  on  hearing  this. 
"  Right  sir,  right,"  he  said,  with  some  energy ;  "  I  have 
always  thought,  although  I  niver  made  bold  to  say  it 


334 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Hi  I' 


"before,  that  there  was  not  enough  o'  tliis  sort  o'  tbiii^f, 
It  has  always  seemed  to  me  a  kind  o'  madness  (excuse  my 
plainness  o'  speech,  sir)  in  you  pastors,  thinkin'  to  make 
the  redskins  come  an'  settle  round  you  like  so  many  squaws, 
and  dig  up  an'  grub  at  the  ground,  when  its  quite  clear 
that  their  natur'  and  the  natur'  o'  things  about  them 
meant  them  to  be  huntei-s.  An'  surely  since  the  Almighty 
made  them  huntei"S,  He  intended  them  to  he  huntei-s,  au' 
won't  refuse  to  make  them  Christians  on  that  account.  A 
redskin's  natur'  is  a  huntin'  natur',  an'  nothin'  on  ai-tli  '11 
ever  make  it  anything  else." 

"There  is  much  tnith  in  what  you  observe,  friend," 
njoined  the  pastor  ;  "  but  you  are  not  altogether  right. 
Their  nature  may  be  changed,  although,  certainly,  nothing 
on  earth  will  change  it.  Look  at  that  frozen  Like."  Ho 
pointed  to  the  wide  field  of  thick  snow-covered  ice  that 
stretched  out  for  miles  like  a  sheet  of  white  maible 
before  them.  "  Could  anything  on  earth  break  up  or 
sink  or  melt  that  ? " 

"  Nothin',"  replied  Jacques,  laconically. 
"  But  the  warm  beams  of  yon  glorious  sun  can  do  it," 
continued  the  pastor,  pointing  upwards  as  he  spoke,  "  and 
do  it  effectually  too;  so  that,  altliough  you  can  scarcely 
observe  the  process,  it  nevertheless  turns  the  hard,  thick, 
solid  ice  into  limpid  water  at  last.  So  is  it  in  regard  to 
man.  Nothing  on  earth  can  change  his  heart  or  alter  his 
nature  ;  but  our  Saviour,  who  is  called  the  Sun  of  righte- 
ousness, can.  When  he  shines  into  a  man's  soul,  it  melts. 
The  old  man  becomes  a  little  child — tliC  wild  savage  a 
Christian.  But  I  agree  with  you  in  tliinking  that  we  have 
not  been  suiUciently  alive  to  the  necessity  of  seeking  to  con- 
vert the  Indians  before  trying  to  gather  them  round  us. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


33j 


The  one  would  follow  as  a  natural  consequence,  I  think, 
of  the  other ;  and  it  is  owing  to  this  conviction  that  I 
intend,  as  I  have  already  said,  to  make  a  journey  in 
spring  to  visit  those  who  will  not  or  cannot  come  to  visit 
Hie  j  and  now,  what  I  want  to  ask  is,  whether  you  will 
agree  to  accompany  me  as  steei-smau  and  guide  on  my 
expedition  ? " 

The  hunter  slowly  shook  his  head.  "I'm  afeerd  not, 
sir  j  I  have  already  promised  to  take  charge  of  a  canoe 
for  the  Company.  I  would  much  rather  go  with  you,  but 
I  must  keep  my  word." 

"  Certainly,  Jacques,  certainly,  that  settles  the  question, 

you  cannot  go  with  me — unless "  the  pastor  paused  as 

if  in  thought  for  a  moment — "  unless  you  can  persuade 
them  to  let  you  off." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  can  try,"  returned  Jacques. 

"  Do,  and  I  need  not  say  how  happy  I  shall  be  if  you 
succeed.  Good  day,  friend,  good-bye;"  so  saying,  the 
missionary  shook  hands  with  the  hunter,  and  returned  to 
his  house,  wliile  Jacques  wended  his  way  to  the  village  in 
search  of  Harry  and  Hamilton. 


I' 


!:|i    I' 


ft 


33G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBLAMS 


CHAPTER   XXV, 

Good  news  and  romantic  scenery ;  bear-hunting  and  its  results. 

Jacques  failed  in  his  attempt  to  break  off  his  engagement 
with  tlie  fur-tradei's.  The  gentleman  in  charge  of 
Norway  House,  albeit  a  good-natured,  estimable  man, 
was  one  who  could  not  easily  brook  disappointment, 
especially  in  matters  that  involved  the  interests  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company ;  so  Jacques  was  obliged  to  hold 
to  his  compact,  and  the  pastor  had  to  search  for  another 
guide. 

Spring  came,  and  with  it  the  awakening  (if  we  may 
use  the  expression)  of  the  country  from  the  long,  lethargic 
•sleep  of  winter.  The  sun  bui"st  forth  with  irresistible 
power,  and  melted  all  before  it.  Ice  and  snow  quickly 
dissolved,  and  set  free  the  watei-s  of  swamp  and  river, 
lake  and  sea,  to  leap  and  sparkle  in  their  new-found 
liberty.  Birds  renewed  their  visits  to  the  regions  of  tlic 
north ;  frogs,  at  last  unfrozen,  opened  their  leathern  jaws 
to  croak  and  whistle  in  the  marshes ;  and  men  began  their 
preparations  for  a  summer  campaign. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  season  an  express  arrivetl 
with  lettei-s  from  head-quarters,  which,  among  other 
mattere  of  importance,  directed  that  Messi"s  Somerville 
and  Hamilton  should  be  despatched  forthwith  to  the 
Saskatchewan  district,  where,  on  reaching  Fort  Pitt,  they 
Avei'e  to  place  themselves  at  the  disposal  of  the  gentleman 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


337 


in  charge  of  the  district.  It  need  scarcely  be  added  that 
the  young  men  were  overjoyed  on  receiving  this  almost 
xmhoped-for  intelligence,  and  that  Harry  expressed  his 
satisfaction  in  his  usual  hilarious  manner,  asserting  some- 
what profanely,  in  the  excess  of  his  glee,  that  the  govemor- 
in-chief  of  Rupert's  Land  was  a  "regular  brick."  Hamilton 
agreed  to  all  his  friend's  remarks  with  a  quiet  smile, 
accompanied  by  a  slight  chuckle,  and  a  somewhat  des- 
perate attempt  at  a  caper,  which  attempt,  bordering  as  it 
did  on  a  region  of  buffoonery  into  which  our  quiet  and 
gentlemanly  friend  had  never  dared  liitherto  to  venture, 
proved  an  awkward  and  utter  failure.  He  felt  this  and 
blushed  deeply. 

It  was  further  arranged  and  agreed  upon  that  the 
young  men  should  accompany  Jacques  C.uadoc  in  his 
canoe.  Having  become  sufficiently  expert  canoe-men  to 
handle  their  paddles  well,  they  scouted  the  idea  of  taking 
men  with  them,  and  resolved  to  launch  boldly  forth  at 
once  as  hond-Jide  voyageurs.  To  this  arrangement, 
Jacques,  after  one  or  two  trials  to  test  their  skill,  agreed; 
and  very  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  express,  the 
trio  set  out  on  their  voyage,  amid  the  cheers  and  adieus 
of  the  entire  population  of  Norway  House,  who  were 
assembled  on  the  end  of  the  \vooden  wharf  to  witness  their 
departure,  and  with  whom  they  had  managed,  during 
their  short  residence  at  that  place,  to  become  special 
favourites.  A  month  later,  the  pastor  of  the  Indian 
village,  having  procured  a  trusty  guide,  embarked  in  hh 
tin  canoe  with  a  crev/  of  six  men,  and  followed  in  their 
track. 

In  process  of  time,  spring  merged  into  summer, — a 
season  chiefly  characterised,  in  those  clines,  by  excessive 


III 


i 

a 


338 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


heat  and  innumerable  clouds  of  mosquitoes,  •whose  vicious 
and  incessant  attacks  render  life,  for  the  time  being,  ii 
burden.  Our  three  voyageuvs,  meanwhile,  ascended  the 
Saskatchewan,  penetrating  deeper  each  day  into  the 
heart  of  the  North  American  continent.  On  arriving  at 
For*  Pitt,  they  were  graciously  permitted  to  rest  for  three 
days,  after  which  they  were  forwarded  1  o  another  district, 
where  fresh  efforts  were  boiiig  made  to  extend  the  fur 
trade  into  lands  hitherto  almost  unvisited.  This  con- 
tinuation of  their  travels  was  quite  suited  to  the  tastes 
and  inclinations  of  Hairy  and  Hamilton,  and  was  hailed 
by  them  a,5  an  additional  reason  for  self-gratulation.  As 
for  Jacques,  he  cared  little  to  what  part  of  the  world  he 
chanced  to  be  sent.  To  hunt,  to  toil  in  rain  and  in  sun- 
shine, in  heat  and  in  cold,  at  the  paddle  or  on  the  snow- 
shoe,  was  his  vocation,  and  it  mattered  little  to  the  bold 
hunter  whether  he  plied  it  upon  the  plains  of  tho 
Saskatchewan,  or  among  the  woods  of  Athabasca.  Besides, 
the  companions  of  his  travels  were  young,  active,  bold, 
adventurous ;  and,  therefore,  quite  suited  to  his  taste. 
Redfeather,  too,  his  best  and  dearest  friend,  had  been 
induced  to  return  to  his  tribe  for  the  purpose  of  mediat- 
ing between  some  of  the  turbulent  members  of  it,  and  the 
white  men  who  had  gone  to  settle  among  them,  so  that 
the  prospect  of  again  associating  with  his  red  friend  was 
an  additional  element  in  his  satisfaction.  As  Charley 
Kermedy  was  also  in  this  district,  the  hope  of  seeing  him 
once  more  was  a  subject  of  such  unbounded  delight  to 
Harry  Somerville,  and  so,  sympathetically,  to  yonng 
Hamilton,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  they  could  realise 
the  full  amount  of  their  good  fortune,  or  give  adequate 
expression  to  their  feelings.     It  is  therefore  probable  that 


ose  vicioiia 


FROM  THE  FAK  NORTH. 


33a 


thcj'e  never  were  three  happier  travellers  than  Jacques, 
Harry,  and  Hamilton,  as  they  shouldered  their  guns  and 
paddles,  shook  hands  with  the  inmates  of  Fort  Pitt,  and, 
with  light  steps  and  lighter  hearts,  launched  their  canoe, 
turned  tlieir  bronzed  faces  once  more  to  the  summer  sun, 
and  dipped  their  paddles  again  in  the  rippling  waters  of 
the  Saskatchewan  river. 

As  their  bark  was  exceedingly  small,  and  buithened 
with  but  little  lading,  they  resolved  to  abandon  the  usual 
route,  and  penetrate  the  wilderness  through  a  ma.e  of 
lakes  and  small  rivers  well  known  to  their  guide.  By 
this  arrangement  they  hoped  to  travel  more  speedily,  and 
avoid  navigating  a  long  sweep  of  the  river  by  making  a 
number  of  poi-tages  ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  change- 
fvd  nature  of  the  route  was  likely  to  render  it  more 
interesting.  From  the  fact  of  its  being  seldom  traversed, 
it  was  also  more  likely  that  they  should  find  a  supply  of 
game  for  the  journey. 

Towards  sunset,  one  fine  day,  about  two  weeks  after 
their  departure  from  Fort  Pitt,  our  voyageurs  paddled 
their  canoe  round  a  wooded  point  of  land  that  jutted  out 
from,  and  partially  concealed,  the  mouth  of  a  large  river, 
down  whose  stream  they  had  dropped  leisurely  during 
the  last  three  days,  and  swept  out  upon  the  bosom  of  a 
large  lake.  This  was  one  of  those  sheets  of  water  which 
gliticr  in  hundreds  on  the  green  bosom  of  America's 
forests,  and  are  so  numerous  and  comparatively  insignifi- 
cant, as  to  be  scarce  distinguished  by  a  name,  unless 
when  they  lie  directly  in  the  accustomed  route  of  the  fur- 
traders.  But  although,  in  conipaiison  with  the  fresh- 
water oceans  of  the  Far  West,  this  lake  was  unnoticed  and 
ahnost    unknown,    it    would    by   no   means   hav^e    been 


|i^; 


\^ 


I 


10:1 

mi 


340 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I    i 


!    ' 


rogarJed  in  such  a  liglit  had  it  been  transported  to  tlie 
plains  of  England.  In  regard  to  picturesque  beauty,  it 
was  perhaps  unsurpassed.  It  might  be  about  six  miles 
wide,  and  so  long  that  the  land  at  the  further  end  of  it 
was  faintly  discernible  on  the  horizon.  "Wooded  hills, 
sloping  gently  down  to  the  water's  edge — jutting  pro- 
montories, some  rocky  and  barren,  others  more  or  less 
covered  with  trees — deep  bays,  retreating  in  some  places 
into  the  dark  recesses  of  a  savage-looking  gorge,  in  others 
into  a  distant  meadow-like  plain,  bordered  with  a  strijje 
of  yellow  sand — beautiful  islands  of  various  sizes,  scattered 
along  the  shores  as  if  nestling  there  for  security,  or 
standing  barren  and  solitary  in  the  centre  of  the  lake, 
like  bulwarks  of  the  wilderness,  some  covered  with 
luxuriant  vegetation,  others  bald  and  grotesque  in  out- 
line, and  covered  with  gulls  and  other  waterfowl, — this 
was  the  scene  that  broke  upon  the  view  of  the  travellers 
as  they  rounded  the  point,  and,  ceasing  to  paddle,  gazed 
upon  it  long  and  in  deep  silence,  tLeir  hands  raised  to 
ahade  their  eyes  from  the  sun's  rays,  which  sparkled  in 
the  water,  and  fell,  here  in  bright  spots  and  broken 
patches,  and  there  in  yellow  floods,  upon  the  rocks,  the 
trees,  the  forest  glades  and  plains  around  them. 

"  What  a  glorious  scene ! "  murmured  Hamilton, 
almost  unconsciously. 

"  A  perfect  paradise  ! "  said  Harry,  with  a  long-drawn 
sigh  of  satisfaction.  "Why,  Jacques,  my  friend,  it's  a 
matter  of  wonder  to  me  that  you,  a  free  man,  without 
relations  or  friends  to  curb  you,  or  attract  you  to  other 
[)arts  of  the  world,  should  go  boating  and  canoeing  all 
over  the  country  at  the  beck  of  the  fur-traders,  when  you 
might  come  and  pitch  your  tent  here  for  ever ! " 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


311 


"  For  ever  ! "  eclioed  Jacques. 

"  Well,  I  mean  as  long  as  you  live  in  this  world." 

"  Ah,  master,"  rejoined  the  guide,  in  a  sad  tone  of 
voice,  "  it's  just  because  I  have  neither  kith,  nor  kin,  nor 
friends  to  draw  me  to  any  partic'lar  spot  on  artli,  that  T 
don't  care  to  settle  down  in  this  one,  beautiful  though  it  be." 

"  Tnie,  true,"  muttered  Harry,  "  man's  a  gregarious 
ciiiimal,  there's  no  doubt  of  that." 

"  Anon  1 "  exclaimed  Jacques. 

"  I  meant  to  say  that  man  naturally  loves  company," 
replied  Harry,  smiling. 

"  An'  yit  I've  seen  some  as  didn't,  master,  though  to  be 
sure  that  was  onnat'ral,  and  there's  not  many  o'  them,  by 
good  luck.     Yes,  man's  fond  o'  seein'  the  flice  o'  man." 

"  And  woman  too,"  interrupted  Hany.  "  Eh  !  Hamil- 
ton, what  say  you  ? — 

•  0  woman  I  in  our  hours  of  ease, 

Uncertain,  coy,  and  tiard  to  please,  i 

Wlien  puin  and  anguish  wring  the  brow, 
A  ministering  an/rel  thoul' 

Alas !  Hammy,  pain  and  angiiish  and  everything  else  may 
wring  our  unfortunate  brows  here  long  enough  before 
woman,  *  lovely  woman,'  will  come  to  our  aid.  What  a 
rare  sight  it  would  be,  now,  to  see  even  an  ordinary 
house-maid  or  a  cook  out  here !  It  would  be  good  for 
sore  eyes.  It  seems  to  me  a  sort  of  horrible  untruth  to 
say  that  I've  not  seen  a  woman  since  I  left  Ked  River, 
and  yet  it's  a  frightful  fact,  for  I  don't  count  the  copper- 
coloured  nondescripts  one  meets  with  hereabouts  to  be 
women  at  all.  I  suppose  they  are,  but  they  don't  look 
like  it." 

"  Don't  be  a  goose,  Hany,"  said  Hamilton, 


!i'j] 


s 


312 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  Cciiainly  not,  my  fiiend.  If  I  were  under  the  dis- 
agreeable necessity  of  being  anything  but  what  I  am,  I 
should  rather  be  something  that  is  not  in  the  habit  of 
being  shot,"  replied  the  other,  paddling  with  renewed 
vigour  in  order  to  get  rid  of  some  of  the  superabundant 
spirits  that  the  beautiful  scene  and  brilliant  weather,  act- 
ing on  a  young  and  ardent  nature,  had  called  forth. 

"  Some  of  these  same  redskins,"  remarked  the  guide, 
"  are  not  such  bad  sort  o'  women,  for  all  their  ill  looks. 
I've  know'd  more  than  one  that  was  a  first-rate  wife, 
an'  a  good  mother  j  though  it's  time  tliey  liad  little  edica- 
tion,  beyond  that  o'  the  woods." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,"  replied  Harry,  laughing  gaily. 
"  How  shall  I  keep  the  canoe's  head,  Jacques?" 

"  Right  away  for  the  pint  that  lies  jist  between  you  an' 
the  sun." 

"  Yes  ;  I  gi^'e  them  all  credit  for  being  excellent  wives 
and  mothers,  after  a  fashion,"  resumed  Harry  ;  "  I've 
no  wish  to  asperse  the  character  of  the  poor  Indians ; 
but  you  must  know,  Jacques,  that  they're  very  different 
from  the  women  that  I  allude  to,  and  of  whom  Scott 
sung.  His  heroines  were  of  a  vc7-f/  diflerent  stamp  and 
colour ! " 

"  Did  he  sing  of  niggers  ?"  inquired  Jacques,  simply. 

"  Of  niggers !"  shouted  Harry,  looking  over  his  shoulder 
at  Hamilton,  \vith  a  broad  grin ;  "  no,  Jacques,  not 
exactly  of  niggers " 

"  Hist ! "  exclaimed  the  guide,  with  that  peculiar  sub- 
dued energy  that  at  once  indicates  an  unexpected  dis- 
covery, and  enjoins  caution,  while,  at  the  same  moment, 
by  a  deep,  powerful  back -stroke  of  his  paddle,  he  sud- 
denly checked  the  rapid  motion  of  the  canoe. 


FROM  THE  FAR  XORTH. 


3t3 


llent  wives 


ilany  and  liis  friend  glanced  quickly  over  thoir 
slionlders  with  a  look  of  surprise. 

"  What's  in  the  wind  now?"  whispered  the  former. 

"  Stop  paddling,  masters,  and  look  ahead  at  the  rock 
yonder,  jist  under  the  tall  cliff.  There's  a  bear  a-sittin' 
there,  an'  if  we  can  only  got  to  shore  afore  he  sees  us, 
we're  sartin  sure  of  him." 

As  the  guide  spoke,  he  slowly  edged  the  canoe  towards 
the  shore,  while  the  young  men  gazed  with  eager  looks  in 
tlie  direction  indicated,  where  they  beheld  what  appeared 
to  be  the  decayed  stump  of  an  old  tree,  or  a  mass  of 
l»rown  rock.  While  they  strained  their  eyes  to  see  it 
more  clearly,  thb  object  altered  it's  fomi  and  position. 

"  So  it  is,"  they  exclaimed,  simultaneouly,  in  a  tone 
tliat  wiis  equivalent  to  the  remark,  "  Now  we  believe, 
because  we  see  it." 

In  a  few  seconds  the  bow  of  the  canoe  touched  the  land, 
so  lightly  as  to  be  quite  inaudible,  and  Harry,  stepping 
gently  over  the  side,  drew  it  forward  a  couple  of  feet, 
while  his  companions  disembarked. 

"  Now,  Mister  Harry,"  said  the  guide,  as  he  slung  a 
powder-horn  and  shot -belt  over  his  shoulder,  "  we've 
no  need  to  circumvent  the  beast,  for  he's  circumvented 
hisself." 

"  How  so  1 "  inquired  the  other,  drawing  the  shot 
from  his  fowling-piece,  and  substituting  in  its  place  a 
leaden  bullet. 

Jacques  led  the  way  through  the  somewhat  thinly 
scattered  undei'wood,  as  he  replied,  "  You  see,  Mister 
Harry,  the  place  where  he's  gone  to  sun  hisself  is  jist  at 
tlie  foot  o'  a  sheor  precipice,  which  runs  round  ahead  of 
him,  and  juta  out  into  the  water,  so  that  he's  got  thrco 


i 


r,\ 


31 1 


SNOWFTvAKES  AN'D  SUNBEAMS 


ways  to  choose  between.  lie  must  clumli'T  up  the  i»reci- 
pice,  which'n  t;iko  liim  some  time,  I  guess,  if  he  can  do  it 
at  all ;  or  ho  must  take  to  the  water,  which  he  don't  like, 
and  won't  do  if  he  can  help  it ;  or  ho  must  run  out  the 
way  he  went  in,  but  as  we  shall  go  to  meet  him  by  the 
same  road,  he'll  have  to  brt-ak  our  ranks  before  he  gains 
the  woods,  an'  that  '11  be  no  easy  job." 

The  party  soon  reached  the  narrow  pass,  between  the 
lake  and  the  near  end  of  the  cliff,  where  they  advanced 
with  greater  caution,  and,  peeping  over  the  low  bushes, 
beheld  bruin,  a  large  brov  n  fellow,  sitting  on  his  haunches, 
and  rocking  himself  slowly  to  and  fro,  aa  he  gazQd  ab- 
stractedly at  the  water.  He  was  scarcely  within  good 
shot,  but  the  cover  was  sufficiently  thick  to  admit  of  a 
nearer  approach. 

"  Now,  Hamilton,"  said  Harry,  in  a  low  whisper, 
"  take  the  fii-st  shot.  I  killed  the  last  one,  so  it's  your 
turn  this  time." 

Hamilton  hesitated,  but  could  make  no  reasonable 
objection  to  this,  although  his  unselfish  nature  prompted 
l)im  to  let  his  friend  have  the  first  chance.  However, 
Jacques  decided  the  matter,  by  saying,  in  a  tone  that 
savoured  strongly  of  command,  although  it  was  accom- 
panied with  a  good-humoured  smile — 

"  Go  for'ard,  young  man ;  but  you  may  as  well  put  in 
the  primin'  fii'st." 

Poor  Hamilton  hastily  rectified  this  oversight,  with  a 
deep  blush,  at  the  same  time  muttering  that  he  never 
would  make  a  hunter ;  and  then  advanced  cautiously 
through  the  bushes,  slowly  followed  at  a  short  distance 
by  his  companions. 

On  reaching  a  bush  within  seventy  yards  of  the  bear, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


U5 


lio  prcci- 
can  do  it 
ou  t  like, 
1  out  the 
111  by  the, 
3  lie  gains 

tween  tlic 
advanced 

)W  bushes, 
haunches, 
gazQd  ab- 

ithin  good 

admit  of  a 

BV   whisper, 
po  it's  your 

reasonable 
prompted 
However, 
tone  that 
Iwas  accom- 

|well  pnt  in 

Iffht,  with  a 
it  he  never 
cautiously 
)rt  distance 

lof  the  beai-, 


Hamilton  pushed  the  twigs  aside  with  the  muzzle  of  his 
gun ;  his  eye  flashed,  and  his  courage  mounted,  as  ho 
gazed  at  the  truly  formidable  animal  before  him,  and  he 
felt  more  of  the  hunter's  spirit  within  him  at  that 
moment  than  he  would  have  believed  possible  a  few 
minutes  before.  Unfortunately,  a  hunter's  .spiiit  does 
not  necessarily  imjjly  a  hunter's  eye  or  hand.  Having 
with  much  care,  and  long  time,  brought  his  piece  to  bear 
exactly  where  he  supposed  the  brute's  heart  should  bo,  he 
observed  that  the  gun  was  on  half-cock,  by  nearly  break- 
ing the  trigger  in  his  convulsive  efforts  to  fire.  By  the 
time  that  this  error  was  rectified,  bruin,  who  seemed  to 
feel  intuitively  that  some  imminent  danger  threatened  him, 
rose,  and  began  to  move  about  uneasily,  which  so  alarmed 
tlie  young  hunter  lest  he  should  lose  his  shot,  that  he 
took  a  hasty  aim,  fired,  and  missed.  Harry  asserted 
aftenvards  that  he  even  missed  the  clifi*!  On  hearing 
the  loud  report,  which  rolled  in  echoes  along  the  preci- 
pice, biniin  started,  and,  looking  round  with  an  undecided 
air,  saw  Harry  step  quietly  from  the  bushes,  and  fire, 
sending  a  ball  into  his  flank.  This  decided  him.  With 
a  fierce  growl  of  pain,  he  scampered  towards  the  water  j 
then,  changing  his  mind,  he  wheeled  round,  and  dashed 
at  the  cliif,  up  wliich  he  scrambled  with  wonderful  speed. 
"Come,  Mister  Hamilton,  load  again;  quick.  I'll 
have  to  do  the  job  myself,  I  fear,"  said  Jacques,  as  ho 
leaned  quietly  on  his  long  gun,  and,  with  a  half-pitying 
smile,  watched  the  young  man,  who  madly  essayed  to  re- 
charge his  piece  more  rapidly  than  it  was  possible  for 
mortal  man  to  do.  Meanwhile,  Harry  had  re-loaded  and 
fired  again ;  but,  owing  to  the  perturbation  of  his  young 
spirits,  and  the  frantic  efforts  of  the  bear  to  escape,  he  missed. 
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346 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUli  BEAMS 


Another  moment,  and  the  animal  would  actually  liavo 
reached  the  top,  when  Jacques  hastily  fired,  and  brought  it 
tumbling  down  the  precipice.  Owing  to  the  position  of 
the  animal  at  the  time  he  fired,  the  wound  was  not  mortal; 
and,  foreseeing  that  bruin  would  now  become  the  aggressor, 
the  hunter  began  rapidly  to  re-load,  at  the  same  time 
retreating  with  his  companions,  who,  in  their  excitement, 
had  forgotten  to  re-charge  their  pieces.  On  reach- 
ing level  ground,  bruin  rose,  shook  himself,  gave  a 
yell  of  anger  on  beholding  his  enemies,  and  rushed  at 
tliem. 

It  was  a  fine  sight  to  behold  the  bearing  of  Jacques  at 
this  critical  juncture.  Accustomed  to  bear-hunting  fi:om 
his  youth,  and  utterly  indifierent  to  consequences  when 
danger  became  imminent,  he  saw  at  a  glance  the  probabili- 
ties of  the  case.  He  knew  exactly  how  long  it  would 
take  him  to  load  his  gun,  and  regulated  his  pace  so  as 
not  to  interfere  with  that  operation.  His  features  wore 
their  usual  calm  expression.  Every  motion  of  his  hands 
was  quick  and  sudden,  yet  not  hurried,  but  performed  in 
a  way  that  led  the  beholder  irresistibly  to  imagine  that 
he  could  have  done  it  even  more  rapidly  if  necessary. 
On  reaching  a  ledge  of  rock  that  overhung  the  lake  a  few 
feet,  he  paused,  and  wheeled  about, — click  went  the  dog- 
head,  just  as  the  bear  ix>se  to  grapple  with  him, — another 
moment,  and  a  bullet  passed  through  the  brute's  heart, 
while  the  bold  hunter  sprang  lightly  on  one  side,  to  avoid 
the  dash  of  the  falling  animal.  As  he  did  so,  young 
Hamilton,  who  had  stood  a  little  behind  him  with  an  up- 
lifted axe,  ready  to  finish  the  work  should  Jacques'  Lre 
prove  inefiective>  received  bruin  in  his  arms,  and  tumbled 
along  with  him  over  the  rock,  headlong  into  the  water, 


•  I:) 


FROM  THE  FAB  NOllTH. 


347 


f  liave 
ight  it 
Dion  of 
nortalj 
gresBor, 
le  time 
tement, 
reach- 
gave   a 
ished  at 

tcques  at 
king  from 
ces  when 
probabili- 
it  would 
ace  so  aa 
ires  wore 
his  hands 
formed  in 
gine  that 
accessary, 
ake  a  few 
the  dog- 
another 
)e's  heart, 
s,  to  avoid 
io,  young 
Lth  an  up- 
sques'  iJ'6 
tumhled 
dIio  water, 


from  which,  however,  he  speedily  arose  unhurt,  spluttering 
and  coughing,  and  dragging  the  dead  hear  to  the  shore. 

"  Well  done,  Hammy,"  shouted  Harry,  indulging  in  a 
prolonged  peal  of  laughter,  when  he  ascertained  that  his 
friend's  adventure  had  cost  him  nothing  more  than  a 
ducking ;  "  that  was  the  most  amicable,  loving  plunge  I 
ever  saw," 

"  Better  a  cold  bath  in  the  arms  of  a  dead  bear,  than 
an  embrace  on  dry  land  with  a  live  one,"  retorted 
Hamilton,  as  he  wrung  the  water  out  of  his  dripping 
garments. 

"  Most  true,  0  sagacious  diver  !  But  the  sooner  we 
get  a  fire  made  the  better ;  so  come  along." 

While  the  two  friends  hastened  up  to  the  woods  to 
kindle  a  fire,  Jacques  drew  his  hunting-knife,  and,  with 
dofied  coat  and  upturned  sleeves,  was  soon  busily  em- 
ployed in  divesting  the  bear  of  his  natural  garment.  The 
carcase,  being  valueless  in  a  country  where  game  of  a 
more  palatable  kind  was  plentiful,  they  left  behind  aa 
a  feast  to  the  wolves.  After  this  was  accomplished,  and 
the  clothes  dried,  they  re-embarked,  and  resumed  their 
journey,  plying  the  paddles  energetically  in  silence,  as 
their  adventure  had  occasioned  a  considerable  loss  of  time. 

It  was  late,  and  the  stars  had  looked  down  for  a  full 
hour  into  the  profound  depths  of  the  now  dark  lake,  ere 
the  party  reached  the  ground  at  the  other  side  of  the 
point,  on  which  Jacques  had  resolved  to  encamp.  Being 
somewhat  wearied,  they  spent  but  little  time  in  discuss- 
ing supper,  and  partook  of  that  meal  with  a  degree  of 
energy  that  implied  a  sense  of  duty  as  well  as  of  plca- 
Hiiro.  Shortly  after,  they  were  buried  in  repose,  under 
the  scanty  shelter  of  their  canoe. 


348 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


CHAPTEK  XXVL 


An  nnexpected  meeting,  and  an  unexpected  deer-bnnt;  arriral  at  the  ontpost; 
disagreement  witli  tlie  natives;  an  enemy  discovered,  and  a  murder. 

Next  morning,  they  rose  with  the  sun,  and,  therefore, 
also  with  the  birds  and  beasts. 

A  wide  traverse  of  the  lake  now  lay  before  them. 
This  they  crossed  in  about  two  hours,  during  which  time 
they  paddled  unremittingly,  as  the  sky  looked  rather 
lowering,  and  they  were  well  aware  of  the  danger  of 
being  caught  in  a  storm  in  such  an  egg-shell  craft  as  an 
Indian  canoe. 

"  "We'll  put  in  here  now,  Mister  Harry,"  exclaimed 
Jacques,  as  the  canoe  entered  the  mouth  of  one  of  those 
small  rivulets,  which  are  called  in  Scotland,  hums,  and  in 
America,  creeks ;  "  it's  like  that  your  appetite  is  sharpened 
after  a  spell  like  that.  Keep  her  head  a  little  more  to 
the  left — straight  for  the  pint — so.  It's  likely  we'll  get 
some  fish  here  if  we  set  the  net." 

"  I  say,  Jacques,  is  yon  a  cloud  or  a  wreath  of  smoke 
above  the  trees  in  the  creek  1"  inquired  Harry,  pointing 
with  his  paddl  ^  towards  the  object  referred  to. 

"It's  smoke,  master;  I've  seed  it  for  some  time,  and 
mayhap  we'll  find  some  Injins  there  who  can  give  us 
news  of  the  traders  at  Stoney-creek." 

"And,  pray,  how  far  do  you  think  we  may  now  be 
from  that  place  ? "  inquired  Harry. 


1:1 


FROM  THE  FAB  NORTH. 


349 


"  Foi-ty  miles,  more  or  less." 

As  lie  spoke,  the  canoe  entered  the  shallow  water  of  the 
creek,  and  began  to  ascend  the  current  of  the  stream, 
which  at  its  mouth  was  so  sluggish  as  to  be  scarcely  per- 
ceptible to  the  eye.  Not  so,  however,  to  the  arms.  The 
light  bark,  which,  while  floating  on  the  lake,  had  glided 
buoyantly  forward  as  if  it  were  itself  consenting  to  the 
motion,  had  now  become  apparently  imbued  with  a  spirit 
of  contradiction,  bounding  convulsively  forward  at  each 
stroke  of  the  paddles,  and  perceptibly  losing  speed  at  each 
interval.  Directing  their  course  towards  a  flat  rock  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  stream,  they  ran  the  prow  out  of  the  water 
and  leaped  ashore.  As  they  did  so,  the  unexpected  figure 
of  a  man  issued  from  the  bushes  and  sauntered  towards 
the  spot.  Harry  and  Hamilton  advanced  to  meet  him, 
while  Jacques  remained  to  unload  the  canoe.  The  stran- 
ger was  habited  in  the  usual  dress  of  a  hunter,  and  carried 
a  fowling-piece  over  his  right  shoulder.  In  general 
appearance,  he  looked  like  an  Indian;  but,  though  the 
face  was  burnt  by  exposure  to  a  hue  that  nearly  equalled 
the  red  skins  of  the  natives,  a  strong  dash  of  pink  in  it, 
and  the  mass  of  fair  hair  which  encircled  it,  proved  that, 
as  Harry  paradoxically  expressed  it,  its  owner  was  a  white 
man.  He  was  young,  considerably  above  the  middle 
height,  and  apparently  athletic.  His  address  and  language, 
on  approaching  the  young  men,  put  the  question  of  his 
being  a  white  man  beyond  a  doubt. 

"  Good  morning,  gentlemen,"  he  began.  "  I  presume 
that  you  are  the  party  we  have  been  expecting  for  some 
time  past  to  reinforce  our  stafl^at  Stoney-creek.  Is  it  not 
so?" 

To  this  query,  young  Somerville,  who  stood  in  ad- 


350 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


vance  of  his  friend,  made  no  reply,  but,  stepping  hastily 
forward,  laid  a  hand  on  each  of  the  stranger's  shoulders, 
and  gazed  earnestly  into  his  face  ;  exclaiming  as  he  did 
so^ 

"  Do  my  eyes  deceive  me  1  Is  Charley  Kennedy  be- 
fore me — or  his  ghost  1 " 

"What !  eh  !"  exclaimed  the  individual  thus  addi'essed, 
returning  Harry's  gripe  and  stare  with  interest,  "is  it 
possible!  no — it  cannot — Harry  Somerville,  my  old,  dear, 
unexpected  friend ! " — and,  pouring  out  broken  sentences, 
abrupt  ejaculations,  and  incoherent  questions,  to  which 
neither  vouchsafed  replies,  the  two  friends  gazed  at  and 
walked  round  each  other,  shook  hands,  partially  embraced, 
and  committed  sundry  other  extravagances,  utterly  uncon- 
scious of,  or  indifferent  to  the  fact,  that  Hamilton  was 
gazing  at  them,  open-mouthed,  in  a  species  of  stupor,  and 
that  Jacques  was  standing  by,  regarding  them  with  a  look 
of  mingled  amusement  and  satisfaction.  The  discovery  of 
this  latter  personage  was  a  source  of  renewed  delight  and 
astonishment  to  Charley,  who  was  so  much  upset  by  the 
commotion  of  his  spirits,  in  consequence  of  this,  so  to 
speak,  double  shot,  that  he  became  rambling  and  incohe- 
rent in  his  speech,  during  the  remainder  of  that  day,  and 
gave  vent  to  frequent  and  sudden  bursts  of  smothered  en- 
thusiasm, in  which  it  would  appear,  from  the  occasional 
muttering  of  the  names  of  .Hedfeather  and  Jacques,  that 
he  not  only  felicitated  himself  on  his  own  good  fortune, 
but  also  anticipated  renewed  pleasure  in  witnessing  the 
joyful  meeting  of  these  two  worthies  ere  long.  In  fact, 
this  meeting  did  take  place  on  the  following  day,  when 
Kedfeather,  returning  from  a  successful  hunt,  with  part  of 
a  deer  on  his  shoulders,  entered  Charley's  tent,  in  which 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


sai 


the  travellers  had  spent  the  previous  clay  and  night,  and 
discovered  the  guide  gravely  discussing  a  venisou  steak 
before  the  fire. 

It  would  be  vain  to  attempt  a  description  of  all  that 
the  re-united  friends  said  and  did  during  the  first  twenty- 
four  hours  after  their  meeting ; — how  they  talked  of  old 
times,  -as  they  lay  extended  round  the  fire,  inside  of  Char- 
ley's tent,  and  recounted  their  adventures  by  flood  and 
field  since  they  last  met ; — how  they  sometimes  diverged 
into  questions  of  speculative  philosophy,  (as  conversations 
ivill  often  diverge,  whether  we  wish  it  or  not),  and 
broke  short  off  to  make  sudden  inquiries  after  old  friends; 
— how  this  naturally  led  them  to  talk  of  new  friends,  and 
new  scenes,  until  they  began  to  forecast  their  eyes  a  little 
into  the  ftiture ;  and  how,  on  feeling  tliat  this  was  an  uncon- 
genial theme  under  present  circumstances,  they  reverted 
again  to  the  past,  and,  by  a  peculiar  train  of  conversation, 
— ^to  retrace  which  were  utterly  impossible, — ^they  invari- 
ably arrived  at  old  times  again.  Having  in  course  of 
the  evening  pretty  well  exhausted  their  powers,  both 
mental  and  physical,  they  went  to  sleep  on  it,  and 
resumed  the  colloquial  melange  in  the  morning. 

"And  now  tell  me,  Charley,  what  you  are  doing  in 
this  uninhabited  part  of  the  world,  so  far  from  Stoney- 
creek,"  said  Harry  Somerville,  as  they  assembled  round 
the  fire  to  breakfast. 

"  That  is  soon  explained,"  replied  Charley.  "  My  good 
friend  and  superior,  Mr  Whyte,  having  got  himself  com- 
fortably housed  at  Stoney-creek,  thought  it  advisable  to 
establish  a  sort  of  half  outpost,  half  fishing-station  about 
twenty  miles  below  the  new  fort,  and,  believing  (very 
justly)  that  my  talents  lay  a  good  deal  in  the  way  of  fish- 


* 


352 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


ing  and  shooting,  sent  me  to  superintend  it  during  the 
summer  months.  I  am,  therefore,  at  present  monarch  of 
that  notable  establishment,  which  is  not  yet  dignified 
with  a  name.  Hearing  that  there  were  plenty  of  deer 
about  twenty  miles  below  my  palace,  I  resolved  the  other 
day  to  gratify  my  love  of  sport,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
l)rocure  some  venison  for  Stoney-creek ;  accordingly,  I 
took  Eedfeather  with  me,  and — here  I  am." 

"Very  good,"  said  Harry;  "  and  can  you  give  us  the 
least  idea  of  what  they  are  going  to  do  with  my  friend 
Hamilton  and  me  when  they  get  us  1 " 

"  Can't  say.  One  of  you  at  any  rate  will  be  kept  at  the 
creek,  to  assist  Mr  Whyte ;  the  other  may,  perhaps,  be 
i  appointed  to  relieve  me  at  the  fishing  for  a  time,  while  / 
am  sent  off  to  push  the  trade  in  other  quarters,  but  I'm 
only  guessing.  I  don't  know  anything  definitely,  for  Mr 
Whyte  is  by  no  means  communicative." 

"  An*  please,  master,"  put  in  Jacques,  "  when  do  you 
mean  to  let  us  off  from  this  place?  I  guess  the  bourgeois 
won't  be  over  pleased  if  we  waste  time  here." 

"  We'll  start  this  forenoon,  Jacques.  I  and  Redfeather 
shall  go  along  with  you,  as  I  intended  to  take  a  run  up  to 
the  creek  about  this  time  at  any  rate.  Have  you  the 
skins  and  dried  meat  packed,  Redfeather?" 

To  this  the  Indian  replied  in  the  affirmative,  and  the 
others  having  finished  breakfast,  the  whole  party  rose  to 
prepare  for  departure,  and  set  about  loading  their  canoes 
forthwith.  An  hour  later  they  were  again  cleaving  the 
waters  of  the  lake,  with  this  difference  in  arrangement, 
that  Jacques  was  transferred  to  Redfeather's  canoe,  while 
Charley  Kennedy  took  his  place  in  the  stern  of  that 
occupied  by  Harry  and  Hamilton. 


# 


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jaii  HcuL  off  tu"  j»ur»ii  t'-e  Irjvli    Jm  utJier  qnaiiei'>«,  l/^if  .»  .- 
.ui5iy  guy.sii.ii(g,     I  (Inii't  kiK^u  u' vtf.hig  (.leiiuiteiy,  At  H' 
Wii^U:  i:>  by  no  lai-;^    ,    r  •'^^«»''ai.^fttivc." 

"All'  pi'»4W!,  w.-M,'**   ^.     '>}».  en  .I'lcqiics,  "  wljcn  do  f-. 
>no*u  U^  1-.    us,  i^/l  f.  u.  ?a:fi  {m*:»;'/     i  giU'tes  the  bouiT^r* v 
w.)u"t  *Xf  tnv-   ,;•      .,1  lir.t-  i;*^i^te  tiino  hero." 

''  AVr"l  ;it^(rt  tjii.i  foreO'  ^  p.  .itcqiioa.    I  nii'l  Uodioiite:  ? 

tjie  cr*etik  aV'f-ni   '.t.^i  luut    m  xtiy  rftte.      llavo  yu  ?«; 
skins  aiivi  diit<\  a.-^<.  ^c-t-lu-'i.  P»t  Unit  her?" 

To  lU.-  till-   ««.<i.,      tf.'j'vi"'!  ni  tlic  iiiiirraatlve,  arni    -v 
otljors  hji.vi:i«  '  *  "v-  ,t   -nrtlia^t,  tiu' wliole  paHy  r<*^w:  i- 
prepaie  f   •  u*  •  •    i?-         d  -t't  about  U-adittg  their  "fi'  /- 
tovfchwith.      .''J    i.    •',      H-f  diey  wore  again  duaviiv<     ' 
waters  oi"  ihn       :.■    *'.     ,  iJm>  dliTt:renc&  in  arrangi-wr  ?. 
that  Jaci^nci  WM/-  ! '■     *.   "■  J  to  E»<'.1  leather's  canoe,  *»^ 
Oharky  .K-ni-od)    •.  "  .'    r*U  place  in  tljo  stern  ol'  t' *^. 
occupied  ]>y  Harry  '(•-'  ^^^..c-tajtoiu 


*» 


/ 


II 


SPEARINQ  DEER  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


Page  ;)fi-l. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


353 


The  establishment  of  which  our  friend  Charley 
pronounced  himself  absolute  monarch,  and  at  which 
they  arrived  in  the  course  of  the  same  afternoon,  con- 
sisted of  two  small  log-houses  or  huts,  constructed  in  the 
rudest  fashion,  and  without  any  attempt  whatever  at 
architectural  embellishment.  It  was  pleasantly  situated 
on  a  small  bay,  whose  northern  extremity  was  sheltered 
from  the  arctic  blast  by  a  gentle  rising  ground  clothed 
with  wood.  A  miscellaneous  collection  of  fishing  appara- 
tus lay  scattered  about  in  front  of  the  buildings,  and  two 
men  in  a  canoe  completed  the  picture.  The  said  two 
men  and  an  Indian  woman  were  the  inhabitants  of  the 
place;  the  king  liimself,  when  present,  and  his  prime 
minister,  Redfeather,  being  the  remainder  of  the  popu- 
lation. 

"Pleasant  little  kingdom  that  of  yours,  Charley," 
remarked  Harry  Somei-ville,  as  they  passed  the  station. 

"  "Very,"  waa  the  laconic  reply. 

They  had  scarcely  passed  the  place  above  a  mile,  when 
a  canoe,  containing  a  solitary  Indian,  was  observed  to  shoot 
out  from  the  shore  and  paddle  hastily  towards  them. 
From  this  man  they  learned  that  a  herd  of  deer  waa 
passing  down  towards  the  lake,  and  would  be  on  its  banks 
in  a  few  minutes.  He  had  been  waiting  their  arrival 
when  the  canoes  came  in  sight,  and  induced  him  to  hurry 
out  so  as  to  give  them  warning.  Having  no  time  to 
loose,  the  whole  party  now  paddled  swiftly  for  the  shore, 
and  reached  it  just  a  few  minutes  before  the  branching 
antlers  of  the  deer  came  in  sight  above  the  low  bushes 
that  skirted  the  wood.  Harry  Somerville  embarked  in 
the  bow  of  the  strange  Indian's  canoe,  so  aa  to  lighten 
the  other  and  enable  all  parties  to  have  a  fair  chance. 


•      !i 


^■«  .. 


354 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


After  snuffing  the  breeze  for  a  few  seconds,  the  foremost 
animal  took  the  water  and  commenced  shimming  towards 
the  opposite  shore  of  the  lake,  which,  at  this  particular 
spot,  was  narrow.  It  was  followed  by  seven  others. 
After  sufficient  time  was  permitted  to  elapse,  to  render 
their  being  cut  off,  in  an  attempt  to  return,  quite  certain, 
the  three  canoes  darted  from  the  shelter  of  the  overhang- 
ing bushes,  and  sprang  lightly  over  the  water  in  pursuit. 

"  Don't  hurry,  and  strike  sure,"  cried  Jacques,  to  his 
young  friends,  as  they  came  up  with  the  terrified  deer, 
that  now  swam  for  their  lives. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  was  the  reply. 

In  another  moment,  they  shot  in  among  the  struggling 
group.  Harry  Somei-ville  stood  up,  and  seizing  the  Indian's 
spear,  prepared  to  strike,  while  his  companions  directed 
their  course  towards  others  of  the  herd.  A  few  seconds 
sufficed  to  bring  him  up  with  it.  Leaning  backwards  a 
little,  so  as  to  give  additional  force  to  the  blow,  he  struck 
the  spear  deep  into  the  animal's  back.  With  a  convul- 
sive struggle,  it  ceased  to  swim,  its  head  slowly  sank,  and, 
in  another  second,  it  lay  dead  upon  the  water.  Without 
waiting  a  moment,  the  Indian  immediately  directed  the 
canoe  towards  another  deer;  while  the  remainder  of  the 
party,  now  considerately  separated  from  each  other, 
despatched  the  whole  herd  by  means  of  axes  and  knives. 

"Ha!"  exclaimed  Jacques,  as  they  towed  their  booty 
to  the  shore,  "  that's  a  good  stock  o'  meat.  Mister  Charles. 
It  will  help  to  furnish  the  larder  for  the  winter  pretty 
weU." 

"  It  was  much  wanted,  Jacques ;  weVe  a  good  many 
mouths  to  feed,  betsides  treating  the  Indians  now  and 
then.     And  this  fellow,  I  think,  will  claim  the  most  of 


FROM  THE  FAR  KORTH. 


355 


our  hunt  as  his  own.  We  should  not  have  got  the  deer 
but  for  him." 

"  True,  true,  Mister  Charles.  They  belong  to  the  redskin 
by  rights,  that's  sartin." 

After  this  exploit,  another  night  was  passed  under 
the  trees ;  and  at  noon,  on  the  day  following,  they 
ran  their  canoe  alongside  the  wooden  wharf,  at  Stoney- 
creek. 

"  Good  day  to  you,  gentlemen,"  said  Mr  Whyte  to 
Harry  and  Hamilton  as  they  landed  ;  "  I've  been  looking 
out  for  you  these  two  weeks  past.  Glad  you've  come  at 
last,  however.  Plenty  to  do,  and  no  time  to  lose.  You 
have  dispatches,  of  course.  Ah !  that's  right,"  (Harry 
drew  a  sealed  packet  from  his  bosom,  and  presented  it  with  a 
bow)  "  that's  right.  I  must  peruse  these  at  once.  Mr 
Kennedy,  you  will  shew  these  gentlemen  their  quarters. 
We  dine  in  half  an  hour."  So  saying,  Mr  Whyte  thrust 
the  packet  into  his  pocket,  and,  without  further  remark, 
strode  towards  his  dwelling,  while  Charley,  as  instructed, 
led  his  friends  to  their  new  residence;  not  forgetting, 
however,  to  charge  Redfeather  to  see  to  the  comfortable 
lodgment  of  Jacques  Caradoc. 

"  Now  it  strikes  me,"  remarked  Harry,  as  he  sat  down 
on  the  edge  of  Charley's  bed,  and  thrust  his  hands  dog- 
gedly down  into  his  pockets,  while  Hamilton  tucked  up 
his  sleeves  and  assaulted  a  washhand-basin,  which  stood 
on  an  unpainted  wooden  chair  in  a  comer,  "  it  strikes  me 
that  if  thais  his  usual  style  of  behaviour,  old  Whyte  is  a 
pleasure  that  we  didn't  anticipate." 

"Don't  judge  from  first  impressions,  they're  often 
deceptive,"  spluttered  Hamilton,  pausing  in  his  ablutions 
to  look  at  Lis  friend  through  a  mass  of  soap-suds, — an  act 


356 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


which  afterwards  cost  him  a  good  deal  of  pain  and  a 
copious  flow  of  unbidden  tears. 

"  Right,"  exclaimed  Charley,  with  an  approving  nod  to 
Hamilton.  "You  must  not  judge  him  prematurely, 
Harry.  He's  a  good-hearted  fellow  at  bottom  j  and  if  he 
once  takes  a  liking  for  you,  he'll  go  through  fire  and 
water  to  serve  you,  as  I  know  from  experience." 

"  Which  means  to  say  three  things,"  replied  the  impla- 
cable Harry — "  first,  that  for  all  his  good-heartedness  at 
bottom,  he  never  shews  any  of  it  at  top,  and  is,  therefore, 
like  unto  truth,  which  is  said  to  lie  at  the  bottom  of  a 
well — so  deep,  in  fact,  that  it  is  never  got  out,  and  so  is  of 
use  to  nobody;  secondly,  that  he  is  possessed  of  that 
amount  of  afiection  which  is  common  to  all  mankind,  (to 
a  great  extent,  even  to  brutes) — ^which  prompts  a  man  to 
be  reasonably  attentive  to  his  friends;  and,  thirdly,  that 
you.  Master  Kennedy,  enjoy  the  peculiar  privilege  of 
being  the  friend  of  a  two-legged  polar  bear ! " 

"  Were  I  not  certain  that  you  jest,"  retorted  Kennedy, 
"  I  would  compel  you  to  apologise  to  me  for  insulting  my 
friend,  you  rascal !  But  see,  here's  the  cook  coming  to 
tell  us  that  dinne  waits.  If  you  don't  wish  to  see  the 
teeth  of  the  polar  bear,  I'd  advise  you  to  be  smart." 

Thus  admonished,  Harry  sprang  up,  plunged  his  hands 
and  face  in  the  basin  and  dried  them,  broke  Charley's 
comb  in  attempting  to  pass  it  hastily  through  his  hair, 
used  his  fingers  savagely  as  a  substitute,  and  overtook  his 
companions  just  as  they  entered  the  mess-room. 

The  establishment  of  Stoney-creek  was  comprised  within 
two  acres  of  ground.  It  consisted  of  eight  or  nine 
houses — ^three  of  which,  however,  alone  met  the  eye  on 
approaching  by  the  lake.     The  "  great "  house,  as  it  was 


FBOM  THE  FAR  NOBTH. 


357 


termed,  on  account  of  its  relative  proportion  to  the  other 
buildings,  "was  a  small  edifice,  built  substantially  but 
roughly  of  unsquared  logs,  partially  whitewashed,  roofed 
with  shingles,  and  boasting  six  small  windows  in  front, 
with  a  large  door  between  them.  On  its  east  side,  and 
at)  right  angles  to  it,  was  a  similar  edifice,  but  smaller, 
having  two  doors  instead  of  one,  and  four  windows 
instead  of  six.  This  was  the  trading-shop  and  provision - 
store.  Opposite  to  this  was  a  twin  building  which  con- 
tained the  furs  and  a  variety  of  miscellaneous  stores. 
Thus  was  formed  three  sides  of  a  square,  from  the  centre 
of  which  rose  a  tall  flagstaff.  The  buildings  behind  those 
just  described  were  smaller  and  insignificant — the  prin- 
cipal one  being  the  house  appropriated  to  the  men;  the 
othera  were  mere  sheds  and  workshops.  Luxuriant 
forests  ascended  the  slopes  that  rose  behind  and  encircled 
this  oasis  on  all  sides,  excepting  in  front,  where  the  clear 
waters  of  the  lake  sparkled  like  a  blue  mirror. 

On  the  margin  of  this  lake  the  new  arrivals,  left  to 
enjoy  themselves  as  they  best  might  for  a  day  or  two, 
sauntered  about  and  chatted  to  their  hearts'  content  of 
things  past,  present,  and  future 

During  these  wanderings,  Harry  confessed  that  his 
opinion  of  Mr  Whyte  had  somewhat  changed;  that  he 
believed  a  good  deal  of  the  first  bad  impression  was  attri- 
butable to  his  cool,  not  to  say  impolite,  reception  of  them ; 
and  that  he  thought  things  would  go  on  much  better  with 
the  Indians  if  he  would  only  try  to  let  some  of  his  good 
qualities  he  seen  through  his  exterior. 

An  expression  of  sadness  passed  over  Charley's  face  as 
his  friend  said  this. 

"  You  are  right  in  the  last  particular,''  he  said,  with  a 


r  \ 


358 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


sigh — "Mr  "Whyte  is  so  rough  and  overbearing,  that  the 
Indians  are  beginning  to  dislike  him.  Some  of  the  more 
clear-sighted  among  them  see  that  a  good  deal  of  this  lies 
in  mere  manner,  and  have  penetration  enough  to  observe 
that  in  all  his  dealings  with  them  he  is  straightforward 
and  liberal ;  but  there  are  a  set  of  them  who  either  don't 
see  this,  -"^  are  so  indignant  at  the  rough  speeches  he 
often  makes,  and  the  rough  treatment  he  sometimes 
threatens,  that  they  won't  forgive  him,  but  seem  to  be 
nursing  their  wrath.  I  sometimes  wish  he  was  sent  to  a 
district  where  the  Indians  and  traders  are,  from  habitual 
intercourse,  more  accustomed  to  each  other's  ways,  and  so 
less  likely  to  quarreL" 

"Have  the  Indians,  then,  used  any  open  threats)"  asked 
Harry. 

"  No,  not  exactly ;  but,  through  an  old  man  of  the 
tribe,  who  is  well  affected  towards  us,  I  have  learned 
that  there  is  a  party  among  them  who  seem  bent  on 
mischief." 

"Then  we  may  expect  a  row,  some  day  or  other.  That's 
pleasant !  what  think  you,  Hammy  1 "  said  Harry,  turning 
to  his  friend. 

"  I  think  that  it  would  be  anything  but  pleasant,"  ho 
replied ;  "  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  we  shall  not  have 
occasion  for  a  row." 

"  You're  not  afraid  of  a  fight,  are  you,  Hamilton  1" 
asked  Charley. 

The  peculiarly  bland  smile  with  which  Hamilton 
usually  received  any  remark  that  savoured  of  banter, 
overspread  his  features  as  Charley  spoke,  but  he  merely 
replied — 

"  No,  Charley,  I'm  not  afi-aid." 


FBOM  THE  FAB  ITOBTH. 


359 


"  Do  you  know  any  of  the  Indians  who  are  so  anxious 
to  vent  their  spleen  on  our  worthy  bourgeois?"  asked 
Harry,  as  he  seated  himself  on  a  rocky  eminence,  com- 
manding a  view  of  the  richly-wooded  slopes,  dotted  with 
huge  masses  of  rock  that  had  fallen  from  the  beetling 
cliffs  behind  the  creek. 

"  Yes,  I  do,"  replied  Charley ;  "  and,  by  the  way,  one 
of  them — the  ringleader — ^is  a  man  with  whom  you  are 
acquainted, — at  least  by  name.  You've  heard  of  an 
Indian  called  Misconna?" 

"  What !"  exclaimed  Harry,  with  a  look  of  surprise, 
"you  don't  mean  the  blackguard  mentioned  by  Red- 
feather,  long  ago,  when  he  told  us  his  story  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Winipeg, — the  man  who  killed  poor  Jacques' 
young  wifel" 

"  The  same,"  replied  Charley. 

"  And  does  Jacques  know  he  is  here  ?" 

"He  does;  but  Jacques  is  a  strange,  unaccountable 
mortal.  You  remember  that,  in  the  struggle  described  by 
Kedfeather,  the  trapper  and  Misconna  had  neither  of 
them  seen  each  other,  Redfeather  having  felled  the  latter 
before  the  former  reached  the  scene  of  action, — a  scene 
which,  he  has  since  told  me,  he  witnessed  at  a  distance, 
while  rushing  to  the  rescue  of  his  wife, — so  that  JNIis- 
conna  is  utterly  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  the  husband  of 
his  victim  is  now  so  near  him ;  indeed,  he  does  not 
know  that  she  had  a  husband  at  all.  On  the  other  hand, 
although  Jacques  is  aware  that  his  bitterest  enemy  is 
within  rifle-range  of  him  at  this  moment,  he  does  not 
know  him  by  sight ;  and  this  morning  he  came  to  me, 
begging  that  I  would  send  Misconna  on  some  expedi- 
tion or  other,  just  to  keep  him  out  of  his  way." 


360 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  And  do  you  intend  to  do  so  ?" 

"  I  shall  do  my  best,"  replied  Charley  ;  "  but  I  cannot 
get  him  out  of  the  way  tiU  to-morrow,  as  there  is  to  be  a 
gathering  of  Indians  in  the  hall  this  very  day,  to  have  a 
palaver  with  Mr  Whyte  about  their  grievances,  and  Mis- 
conna  wouldn't  miss  that  for  a  trifle; — ^but  Jacques  won't 
be  likely  to  recognise  him  among  so  many ;  and,  if  he 
does,  I  rely  with  confidence  on  his  powers  of  restraint  and 
forbearance.  By  the  way,"  he  continued,  glancing  up- 
wards, "  it  is  past  noon,  and  the  Indians  will  have  begun 
to  assemble,  so  we  had  better  hasten  back,  as  we  shaU  be 
expected  to  help  in  keeping  order." 

So  saying,  he  rose,  and  the  young  men  returned  to  the 
fort.  On  reaching  it,  they  found  the  hall  crowded  with 
natives,  who  sat  cross-legged  around  the  walls,  or  stood  in 
groups  conversing  in  low  tones,  and,  to  judge  from  the 
expression  of  their  dark  eyes  and  lowering  brows,  they 
were  in  extremely  bad  humour.  They  became  silent  and 
more  respectful,  however,  in  their  demeanour  when  the 
young  men  entered  the  apartment  and  walked  up  to  the 
fire-place,  in  which  a  small  fire  of  wood  burned  on  the 
hearth,  more  as  a  convenient  means  of  re-kindling  the 
pipes  of  the  Indians  when  they  went  out,  than  as  a  means 
of  heating  the  place.  Jacques  and  Redfeather  stood 
leaning  against  the  wall  near  to  it,  engaged  in  a  whis- 
pered conversation.  Glancing  round  as  he  entered, 
Charley  observed  Misconna  sitting  a  little  apart  by  him- 
self, and  apparently  buried  in  deep  thought.  He  had 
scarcely  perceived  him,  and  nodded  to  several  of  his  par- 
ticular friends  among  the  crowd,  when  a  side-door 
opened,  and  Mr  Whyte,  with  an  angry  expression  on  his 
countenance,  strode  up  to  the  fire-place,  planted  himself 


1:1 


FROM  THE  FAB  NORTH. 


361 


before  it,  vrith  his  legs  apart  and  his  hands  behind  him, 
while  he  silently  surveyed  the  group.  > 

"  So,"  he  began,  "  you  have  asked  to  speak  with  me  : 
well — ^here  I  am.    What  have  you  to  say  1 " 

Mr  "Whyte  addressed  the  Indians  in  their  native 
tongue,  having,  during  a  long  residence  in  the  country, 
learned  to  speak  it  aa  fluently  as  English. 

For  some  moments  there  was  silence.  Then  an  old 
chief — ^the  same  who  had  officiated  at  the  feast  described 
in  a  former  chapter — rose,  and,  standing  forth  into  the 
middle  of  the  room,  made  a  long  and  grave  oration,  in 
which,  besides  a  great  deal  that  was  bombastic,  much 
that  was  irrelevant,  and  more  that  was  utterly  fabulous 
and  nonsensical,  he  recounted  the  sorrows  of  himself  and 
liis  tribe,  concluding  with  a  request  that  the  great  chief 
would  take  these  things  into  consideration — ^the  principal 
"  ihinga  "  being,  that  they  did  not  get  anything  in  the 
shape  of  gratuities,  while  it  was  notorious  that  the  In- 
dians in  other  districts  did,  and  that  they  did  not  get 
enough  of  goods  in  advance,  on  credit  of  their  future 
hunts. 

Mr  Whyte  heard  the  old  man  to  the  end  in  silence ; 
then,  without  altering  his  position,  he  looked  round  on 
the  assembly  with  a  frown,  and  said — "  Now,  listen  to 
me :  I  am  a  man  of  few  words.  I  have  told  you  over 
and  over  again,  and  I  now  repeat  it,  that  you  shall  get 
no  gratuities  until  you  prove  yourselves  worthy  of  them  ; 
I  shall  not  increase  your  advances  by  so  much  as  half  an 
inch  of  tobacco,  till  your  last  year's  debts  are  scored  off, 
and  you  begin  to  shew  more  activity  in  hunting  and  less 
disposition  to  grumble.  Hitherto  you  have  not  brought 
in  anything  like  the  quantity  of  furs  that  the  capabilities 
2  a 


362 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


of  the  country  led  me  to  expect.  You  are  lazy.  Until 
you  become  better  hunters,  you  shall  have  no  redress 
from  me." 

As  he  finished,  Mr  Whyte  made  a  step  towards  the 
door  by  which  he  had  entered,  but  was  arrested  by  an- 
other chief,  who  requested  to  be  heard.  Besuming  his 
place  and  attitude,  Mr  Whyte  listened  with  an  expression 
of  dogged  determination,  while  guttural  ginints  of  unequi- 
vocal dissatisfaction  issued  fix)m  the  throats  of  several  of 
the  malcontents.  The  Indian  proceeded  to  repeat  a  few 
of  the  remarks  made  by  his  predecessor,  but  more  con- 
cisely, and  wound  up  by  explaining  that  the  failure  in 
the  hunts  of  the  previous  year  was  owing  to  the  will  of 
the  Great  Manito,  and  not  by  any  means  on  account  of 
the  supposed  laziness  of  himself  or  his  tribe. 

"  That  is  false,"  said  Mr  Whyte ;  "  you  know  it  is  not 
true."  '  ' 

As  this  was  said,  a  murmur  of  anger  ran  round  the 
apartment,  which  was  interrupted  by  Misconna,  who, 
apparently  unable  to  restrain  his  passion,  sprang  into 
the  middle  of  the  room,  and,  confronting  Mr  Whyte, 
made  a  short  and  pithy  speech,  accompanied  by  vio- 
lent gesticulation,  in  which  he  insinuated  that,  if 
redress  was  not  granted,  the  white  men  would  bitterly 
repent  it. 

During  his  speech,  the  Indians  had  risen  to  their  feet 
and  drawn  closer  together,  while  Jacques  and  the  three 
young  men  drew  near  their  superior.  Redfeather  re- 
mained apart,  motionless,  and  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
ground. 

"And,  pray,  what  dog — ^what  misei-able  thieving  cur 
are  you,  who  dare  to  address  me  thus?"  cried  Mr  Wliyte, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


363 


as  he  strode,  with  flashing  eyes,  up  to  the  enraged 
Indian. 

MiBconna  clenched  his  teeth,  and  his  fingers  worked 
conyulsively  about  the  handle  of  his  knife,  as  he  ex- 
claimed— "I  am  no  dog.  The  palefaces  are  dogs.  I  am  a 
great  chie£     My  name  is  known  among  the  braves  of  my 

tribe.     It  is  Misconna '* 

As  the  name  fell  from  his  lips,  Mr  Whyte  and  Charley 
were  suddenly  dashed  aside,  and  Jacques  sprang  towards 
the  Indian,  his  face  livid,  his  eyeballs  almost  bursting 
from  their  sockets,  and  his  muscles  rigid  with  passion. 
For  an  instant  he  regarded  the  savage  intently  as  he 
shrank  appalled  before  him — ^then  his  colossal  fist  fell  like 
lightning,  with  the  weight  of  a  sledge-hammer,  on  Mis- 
conna's  forehead,  and  drove  him  against  the  outer  door, 
which,  giving  way  before  the  violent  shock,  burst  from  its 
fastenings  and  hinges,  and  fell,  along  with  the  savage, 
with  a  loud  crash  to  the  ground. 

For  an  instant  every  one  stood  aghast  at  this  precipi- 
tate termination  to  the  discussion,  and  then,  springing 
forward  in  a  body,  with  drawn  knives,  the  Indians  rushed 
upon  the  white  men,  who,  in  a  close  phalanx,  with  such 
weapons  as  came  first  to  hand,  stood  to  receive  them. 
At  this  moment  Bedfeather  stepped  forward  unarmed  be- 
tween the  belligerents,  and  turning  to  the  Indians,  said — 
"  Listen !  Redfeather  does  not  take  the  part  of  his 
white  friends  against  his  comrades.  You  know  that  he 
never  failed  you  in  the  war-path,  and  he  would  not  fail 
you  now  if  your  cause  were  just.  But  the  eyes  of  his 
comrades  are  shut.  Redfeather  knows  what  they  do  not 
know.  The  white  hunter  "  (pointing  to  Jacques)  "  is  a 
friend  of  Redfeather.     He  is  a  friend  of  the  Knistencux. 


364 


8N0WFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


He  did  not  strike  because  you  disputed  with  his  bouT' 
geoisjhe  struck  because  Misconna  ia  hia  mortal  foe.  But 
the  stoiy  is  long.  Kedfeather  will  tell  it  at  the  council 
fire." 

''  He  is  right,"  exclaimed  Jacques,  who  had  recovered 
his  usual  grave  expression  of  countenance,  "Bedfeather  is 
right.  I  bear  you  no  iU-will,  Injins,  and  I  shall  explain 
the  thing  myself  at  your  council  fire." 

As  Jacques  spoke,  the  Indians  sheathed  their  knives, 
and  stood  with  frowning  brows,  as  if  uncertain  what  to 
do.  The  unexpected  interference  of  their  comrade  in 
arms,  coupled  with  his  address  and  that  of  Jacques,  had 
excited  their  curiosity.  Perhaps  the  undaunted  deport- 
ment of  their  opponents,  who  stood  ready  for  the  en- 
counter with  a  look  of  stem  determination,  contributed  a 
little  to  allay  their  resentment. 

While  the  two  parties  stood  thus  confronting  each 
other,  as  if  uncertain  how  to  act,  a  loud  report  was  heard 
just  outside  the  doorway.  In  another  moment,  Mr  Whyte 
fell  heavily  to  the  ground,  shot  through  the  heart. 


» 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


3G5 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


The  chase;  the  fight;  retribution.    Low  spirits  and  good  news. 

The  tragical  end  of  the  consultation  related  in  the  last 
chapter,  had  the  effect  of  immediately  reconciling  the  dis- 
putants. "With  the  exception  of  four  or  five  of  the  most 
depraved  and  discontented  among  them,  the  Indians  bore 
no  particular  ill-will  to  the  unfortunate  principal  of 
Stoney-creek ;  and,  although  a  good  deal  disappointed  to 
find  that  he  was  a  stem,  unyielding  trader,  they  had,  in 
reality,  no  intention  of  coming  to  a  serious  rupture  with 
him,  much  less  of  laying  violent  hands  either  upon 
master  or  men  of  the  establishment. 

When,  therefore,  they  beheld  Mr  Whyte  weltering  in 
his  blood  at  their  feet,  a  sacrifice  to  the  ungovernable 
pa.ssion  of  Misconna,  who  was  by  no  means  a  favourite 
among  his  brethren,  their  temporary  anger  was  instantly 
dissipated,  and  a  feeling  of  deepest  indignation  roused 
in  their  bosoms  against  the  miserable  assassin  who  had 
perpetrated  the  base  and  cowardly  murder.  It  was, 
therefore,  with  a  yell  of  rage  that  several  of  the  band, 
immediately  after  the  victim  fell,  sprang  into  the  woods 
in  hot  pursuit  of  him  whom  they  now  counted  their 
enemy.  They  were  joined  by  several  men  belonging 
to  the  fort,  who  had  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action  on 
hearing  that  the  people  in  the  hall  were  likely  to  come  to 
blows.     Bedfeather  was  the  first  who  had  bounded  like  a 


3C6 


8N0WFLAK£S  AND  SUKBKAM3 


doer  into  tho  woods  in  pursuit  of  the  ftigitivo.  Thosfl 
who  remained  assisted  Charley  and  his  friends  to  convey 
tlic  body  of  Mr  Whyte  into  an  adjoining  room,  whcro 
they  placed  him  on  a  bed.  He  was  quite  dead ;  the  mur- 
derer's aim  having  been  terribly  true. 

Finding  that  ho  was  post  all  human  aid,  the  young  men 
returned  to  tho  hall,  which  they  entered  just  as  Red- 
feather  glided  quickly  through  the  open  doorway,  and, 
approaching  the  group,  stood  in  silence  beside  them,  with 
Iiis  armSkfolded  on  his  breast. 

"  You  have  something  to  tell,  Redfeather,"  said 
Jacques,  in  a  subdued  tone,  after  regarding  him  a  few 
seconds.     "  Is  the  scoundrel  caught  1 " 

"  Misconna's  foot  is  swift,"  replied  the  Indian,  "  and 
the  wood  is  thick.  It  is  wasting  time  to  follow  him 
through  the  bushes." 

"  "What  would  you  advise,  then  ? "  exclaimed  Charley, 
in  a  hurried  voice.  "  I  see  that  you  have  some  plan  to 
propose." 

"  The  wood  is  thick,"  answered  Redfeather,  "  but  the 
lake  and  the  river  are  open.  Let  one  party  go  by  tho 
lake,  and  one  party  by  the  river." 

"  That's  it,  that's  it,  Injin,"  interrupted  Jacques,  ener- 
getically, "  yer  wits  are  always  jumpin'.  By  crossin'  over 
to  Duck  River,  we  can  start  at  a  point  five  or  six  miles 
above  the  lower  fall,  an'  as  it's  thereabouts  he  must 
cross,  we'll  be  time  enough  to  catch  him.  If  he  tries  the 
lake,  the  other  party'll  fix  him  there;  an'  he'll  be  soon 
poked  up  if  he  tries  to  hide  in  the  bush." 

"  Come,  then,  we'll  all  give  chase  at  once,"  cried 
Charley,  feeling  a  temporary  reKef  in  the  prospect  of  ener- 
getic action,  from  the  depressing  efiects  of  the  calamity 


f;l 


ruOM  THE  FAR  NUKTU. 


367 


that  had  so  suddenly  b^jilJlon  him  in  the  loss  of  liia  chief 
aud  friend. 

Little  time  was  needed  for  preparation.  Jucquog, 
Charley,  and  Harry  proceeded  by  the  river ;  while  Red- 
feather  and  Hamilton,  with  a  couple  of  men,  launched 
their  canoe  on  the  lake,  and  set  off  in  pursuit. 

Grossing  the  country  for  about  a  mile,  Jacques  led  his 
party  to  the  point  on  the  Duck  lliver  to  which  he  had 
previously  referred.  Here  they  found  two  canoes,  into 
one  of  which  the  guide  stepped  with  one  of  the  men,  a 
Canadian,  who  had  accompanied  them ;  wlule  Hany  and 
Charley  embarked  in  the  other.  In  a  few  minutes  they 
were  rapidly  descending  the  stream. 

"  How  do  you  mean  to  act,  Jacques  1  '*  inquired 
Charley,  as  he  paddled  alongside  of  the  guide's  canoe. 
"  Is  it  not  likely  that  IVIisconna  may  have  crossed  the 
river  already  ?  In  which  case  we  shall  have  no  chance  of 
catching  him."  • 

"  Niver  fear,"  returned  Jacques.  "  He  must  have 
longer  legs  than  most  men  if  he  gets  to  the  flat-rock  fall 
before  us,  an'  as  that's  the  spot  where  he'll  nat'rally  cross 
the  river,  being  the  only  straight  line  for  *■''  3  hills  that 
escapes  the  bend  o'  the  bay  to  the  south  o'  k.i/oney-creek, 
we're  pretty  sartin  to  stop  Mm  there." 

"  True ;  but  that  being,  as  you  say,  the  natural  route, 
don't  you  think  it  likely  he'll  expect  that  it  will  be 
guarded,  and  avoid  it  accordingly  "J " 

"  He  would  do  so.  Mister  Charles,  if  he  thought  we 
were  here;  but  there  are  two  reasons  agin  this.  He 
thinks  that  he's  got  the  start  o'  us,  an'  won't  need  to 
double  by  way  o'  deceivin'  us ;  an'  then  he  knows  that 
the  whole  tribe  is  after  him,  and,  consekintly,  won't  take 


3G8 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


a  long  road,  when  there's  a  short  one,  if  he  can  help  it 
But  here's  the  rock.  Look  out,  Mr  Charles.  We'll  have 
to  run  the  fall,  which  isn't  very  big  just  now,  and  then 
hide  in  the  bushes  at  the  foot  of  it  till  the  blackguard 
shews  himself.  Keep  well  to  the  right,  an'  don't  mind 
the  big  rock ;  the  rush  o'  water  takes  you  clear  o'  that 
without  trouble."  * 

With  this  concluding  piece  of  advice,  he  pointed  to  the 
fall,  which  plunged  over  a  ledge  of  rock  about  half  a  mile 
ahead  of  them,  and  which  was  distinguishable  by  a  small 
column  of  white  spray  that  rose  out  of  it.  As  Charley 
beheld  it,  his  spii'its  rose,  and  forgetting,  for  a  moment, 
the  circumstances  which  called  him  there,  he  cried  out — 

"  I'll  run  it  before  you,  Jacques.  Hurrah !  Give 
way,  Harry ! "  and,  in  spite  of  a  remonstrance  from  the 
guide,  he  shot  the  canoe  ahead,  gave  vent  to  another 
reckless  shout,  and  flew,  rather  than  glided,  down  the 
stream.  On  seeing  this,  the  guide  held  back,  so  as  to  give 
him  sufficient  time  to  take  the  plunge  ere  he  followed. 
A  few  strokes  brought  Charley's  canoe  to  the  brink  of 
the  fall,  and  Harry  was  just  in  the  act  of  raising  himself 
in  the  bow  to  observe  the  position  of  the  rocks,  when  a 
shout  was  heard  on  the  bank  close  beside  them.  Look- 
ing up,  they  beheld  an  Indian  emerge  from  the  forest,  fit 
an  arrow  to  his  bow,  and  discharge  it  at  them.  The 
winged  messenger  was  truly  aimed,  it  whizzed  tlirough 
the  air  and  transfixed  Harry  Somerville's  left  shoulder 
just  at  the  moment  they  swept  over  the  fall.  The  arrow 
completely  incapacitated  Harry  from  using  his  arm,  so 
that  the  canoe,  instead  of  being  directed  into  the  broad 
current,  took  a  sudden  turn,  dashed  in  among  a  mass  of 
broken  rocks,  between  which   the  water  foamed  with 


'(,'.'(0     ci..i'i 


3G8 


BN(>Vr'FT.AKK!«  XSiJ  SaNBKAJT:-! 


a  loiiy:  rojwl,  whuti  tJ' fv  ,  «  ^^iovt  one,  ii  he  c;i«   i*^-^- 
15va  hcni's  tli.*  '-^i.jifc      J-'^.k  <>«t,  Mr-  Oliiu-Ibti.     ''^ 
to  nm  thtu  r«.i!  -^t'hM?*-  ^-iv'ii  very  })ig'  jiwi  uow,  a«i4'  .  »> 
liiilo  in  *^li*^'  hwK;^  »t  ihe  fo>i  of  it  tiii  tli'-i  Wm%¥'< '*>■ 

viit   brj',  :-'k      (•!»•.■  iu.<h  «)'  watci  tukea  you  clem        •■. 

Witii  this  coiidu'linjL'  puvi;  ■»£  .ulvioe,  he  pomietl  xv»  V:,. 
x..'l,  wliicli  pluug»<i  ovi;r  a  .'odg*.^  of  ro/k  about  hab'u  ■'■.. 
a'aodd  of  tlii.m,  and  wliinh  Wfus  dh-Jtinguishablo  by  -.  ■»'■..■. 
coiuniii  '.if  whiw.  Hprsi.y  that  rose  o\it  of  it..     A-  Cl-iv;'  '. 
I,u.h.'id  \i;  lu.a  fipirits  r''So,  UlmI  ftnjettirfr.  for  a  n:'-.\i-    ,  , 
tl)o  (ur.'.unistanoes  wlikdi  call:;d  hiri  there,  he  <'ried  -"'"^  i. 

"  riJ    niii  it  li-'Utri.!  yoTi,   JactjUCiS.      Huvrali !      t.    .  ■ 
v.'ay,  Hairy!"  i'^'  h  in  sjntr  <  f  a  remonstraiiof  froi*: 
guiuc,    ho  K'M>t    th'>  canoo  ah"iKl,   gave  vent   to-aii.-vV;;, 
i\!ckIc«HS  sh''i3t,  a.ii  Hot.',    rotJii t  thau   Grlided,  div^^'/n  .,>" 
.-(.riAJu-     v.h.  *.^e  'v^  ^hiH,  tfie  £raiucl)eld  back,  so  li-'^  '■<•  .,. 
!ii."i;i  safti'NT'WV  »-v'^t-  u?  takf  ilic  pluD^'o  ore  he  f(dl  >••>'  ■ 
A   f-.v  -.^irVi's  '.^  ,vi;ht  V'harloy's  cfinoc  to  the  hm  ^ 
t!i'  fail,  3nd  Ihi^rry  "*ai;  ii;«f.  i".  tho  act  of  raising  h,-  >■■. 
u\  the  l>'<v,  to  (M».-!H\-«-  liu     f-*^t♦•.0T^  of  the  rorks,  Vi'.'^*  -'■- 
hhout  w:i3  hearL^  .m».  ^'^  \)»nk  *.'l'.'.-4e  lieyide  tliom.      *    •   ■ 
ing  lip,  th«v  hthek'    .;    St".  .i»^n  cuierc'O  trora  the  foivvt.     - 

■•^.   tv.ii  fiic;ch«m;.,:  i<    at  them.       ■' - 
iy.Ciy  'iirited,  it  \vhv./cd  iJj\<?f.ii|?^ 
(Itirry  KniKrvdleVj  loft  Si-n  : 
just  at  tbt*  mnnuMii  fU'     -'-^cpt  o'.e.r  the  .t;il!.     Tho  r^rrx  ■<*' 
oompleteb    jiC^pw.M^rtttid  ■  Harry  from  usiiij.f  his  arm   % 
that  the  oan.'H^,  in;^M^i!  "f  hoi ng  directed  into  tlic  biY*>.* 
curreat,  t»>ok  n  .«udd'.n  '>i'n.  fiarilitd  in  among  a  m.'.i.s« 
brok'^n   rock,-?,  Vv.t^'et-^i   wiii.oh   the   wator   foanivd   w'*'- 


an   n l.•^^')^^'   tv)    !i.i4  I'  -^ 
vsinged  mesaeni:;' r  v. 
tliR  air  :ind  trp  ^.•'i<'- 


'1     V 


A  FLYING  SHOT.       . 


I>age»U8. 


violence, 

its  owner 

to  set  it  f] 

to  accomj 

Jacques  \ 

fears  wer 

cataract, 

leaving  J 

By  their 

righted,  a: 

as  the  In( 

order  to  g 

the  banks 

tunately, 

"  This  i 

landed  an 

from   thei 

that  our  j 

varmint  k 

lin'." 

"  But  vi 
we  don't  e 
"  Humj 
lock  of  his 
that's  plai 
reptile  has 
pretty  lor 
behind, 
concerted  j 
contempt, 
"  Never 
But  I  forg 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


369 


violence,  and  upset.  Here  the  canoe  stuck  fast,  while 
its  owners  stood  up  to  their  waists  in  the  water,  stiniggling 
to  set  it  free, — an  object  which  they  were  the  more  anxious 
to  accomplish  that  its  stem  lay  directly  in  the  spot  where 
Jacques  would  infallibly  descend.  The  next  instant  their 
fears  were  realised.  The  second  canoe  glided  over  the 
cataract,  dashed  violently  against  the  firet,  and  upset, 
leaving  Jacques  and  his  man  in  a  similar  predicament. 
By  their  aid,  however,  the  canoes  were  more  easily 
righted,  and  embarking  quickly  they  shot  forth  again,  just 
as  the  Indian,  who  had  been  obliged  to  make  a  detour  in 
order  to  get  within  range  of  their  position,  re-appeared  on 
the  banks  above,  and  sent  another  shaft  after  them, — for- 
tunately, however,  without  effect. 

"  This  is  unfortunate,"  muttered  Jacques,  as  the  party 
landed  and  endeavoured  to  wring  some  of  the  water 
from  their  dripping  clothes,  "an'  the  worst  of  it  is 
that  our  guns  are  useless  after  sich  a  duckin',  an'  the 
varmint  knows  that,  an'  will  be  down  on  us  in  a  twink- 
lin'." 

"  But  we  are  four  to  one,"  exclaimed  Harry.  "  Surely 
we  don't  need  to  fear  much  from  a  single  enemy." 

"  Humph  ! "  ejaculated  the  guide,  as  he  examined  the 
lock  of  his  gun.  "  You've  had  little  to  do  with  Injins, 
that's  plain.  You  may  be  sure  he's  not  alone,  an'  the 
reptile  has  a  bow  with  arrows  enough  to  send  us  all  on  a 
pretty  long  journey.  But  we've  the  trees  to  dodge 
behind.  If  I  only  had  one  dry  charge ! "  and  the  dis- 
concerted guide  gave  a  look,  half  of  perplexity,  half  of 
contempt,  at  the  dripping  gun. 

"  Never  mind,"  cried  Charley,  "  we  have  our  paddles. 
But  I  forgot,  Harry,  in  all  this  confusion,  that  you  are 


1 
I 


..^•-* 


r\ 


\ 


370 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


wounded,  my  poor  fellow  —  we  must  have  it  examinnd 
before  doing  anything  farther." 

"  Oh  !  it's  nothing  at  all — a  mere  scratch,  I  think ;  ut 
least  I  feel  very  little  pain." 

As  he  spoke  the  twang  of  a  bow  was  heard,  and  an 
aiTow  flew  past  Jacques'  ear. 

"  Ah  !  so  soon  ! "  exclaimed  that  worthy,  with  a  look 
of  surprise,  as  if  he  had  unexpectedly  met  with  an  old 
friend.  Stepping  behind  a  tree,  he  motioned  to  his 
friends  to  do  likewise ;  an  example  which  they  followed 
somewhat  hastily  on  beholding  the  Indian  who  had 
wounded  HaiTy  step  from  the  cover  of  the  underwood 
and  deliberately  let  fly  another  arrow,  which  passed 
through  the  hair  of  the  Canadian  they  had  brought  with 
them. 

From  the  several  trees  behind  which  they  had  leaped 
for  shelter,  they  now  perceived  that  the  Indian  with  the 
bow  was  Misconna,  and  that  he  was  accompanied  by 
eight  others,  who  appeared,  however,  to  be  totally  un- 
armed; having,  probably,  been  obliged  to  leave  their 
weapons  behind  them,  owing  to  the  abruptness  of  their 
flight.  Seeing  that  the  white  men  were  unable  to  use 
their  guns,  the  Indians  assembled  in  a  group,  and,  from 
the  hasty  and  violent  gesticulations  of  some  of  the  party, 
especially  of  Misconna,  it  was  evident  that  a  speedy 
attack  was  intended. 

Observirg  this,  Jacques  coolly  left  the  shelter  of  his 
tree,  and,  f:oing  up  to  Charley,  exclaimed,  "  !"•  v/_,  Mister 
Charles,  I'm  goin'  to  run  away,  so  you'd  better  come 
along  with  me." 

"That  I  certainly  will  not!  Why,  what  do  you 
mean  ? "  inquired  the  other,  in  astonishment. 


FKOM  THE  FAR  NOUTH. 


371 


(( 


I  mean  that  these  stujnd  redskins  can't  make  up 
their  minds  what  to  do,  an',  as  I've  no  notion  o'  stoppiu' 
here  all  day,  I  want  to  make  them  do  what  will  suit  us 
best.  You  see,  if  they  scatter  through  the  wood  and 
attack  us  on  all  sides,  they  may  give  us  a  deal  o'  trouble, 
and  git  away  after  all  j  whereas,  if  we  run  away,  they'll 
bolt  after  us  in  a  body,  and  then  we  can  take  them  in 
hand  all  at  once,  which  '11  be  more  comfortable  like,  an 
easier  to  manage." 

As  Jacques  spoke,  they  were  joined  by  Harry  and  the 
Canadian;  and,  being  observed  by  the  Indians  thus 
grouped  together,  another  arrow  was  sent  among  them. 

"  Now,  follow  me,"  said  Jacques,  turning  round  with 
a  loud  howl,  and  running  away.  He  was  closely  followed 
by  the  others.  As  the  guide  had  predicted,  the  Indians 
no  sooner  observed  this  than  they  rushed  after  them  in  a 
body,  uttering  horrible  yells. 

"  Now,  then ;  stop  here ;  down  with  you." 

Jacques  instantly  crouched  behind  a  bush,  while  each 
of  the  party  did  the  same.  In  a  moment  the  savages 
came  shouting  up,  supposing  that  the  white  men  were 
still  running  on  in  advance.  As  the  foremost,  a  tall, 
muscular  fellow,  with  the  agility  of  a  panther,  bounded 
over  the  bush  behind  which  Jacques  was  concealed,  he 
was  met  with  a  blow  from  the  guide's  fist,  so  poweifully 
delivered  into  the  pit  of  his  stomach,  that  it  sent  him 
violently  back  into  the  bush,  where  he  lay  insensible. 
This  event,  of  course,  put  a  check  upon  the  head- 
long pursuit  of  the  others,  who  suddenly  paused,  like  a 
group  of  infuriated  tigers,  unexpectedly  baulked  of  their 
prey.  The  hesitation,  however,  was  but  for  a  moment. 
Misconna,  who  was  in  advance,  suddenly  drew  his  bow 


r  I 


372 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


again,  and  let  fly  an  arrow  at  Jacques,  which  the  latter 
dexterously  avoided  \  and,  while  his  antagonist  lowered 
his  eyes  for  an  instant  to  fit  another  arrow  to  the  string, 
the  guide,  making  use  of  his  paddle  as  a  sort  of  javelin, 
threw  it  with  such  force  and  precision  that  it  struck 
Misconna  directly  between  the  eyes,  and  felled  him  to  the 
earth.  In  another  instant,  the  two  parties  rushed  upon 
each  other  and  a  general  melie  ensued,  in  which  the  white 
men,  being  greatly  superior  to  their  adversaries  in  the 
use  of  their  fists,  soon  proved  themselves  more  than  a 
match  for  them  all  although  inferior  in  numbers.  Charley's 
first  antagonist,  making  an  abortive  attempt  to  grapple 
with  him,  received  two  rapid  blows,  one  on  the  chest  and 
the  other  on  the  nose,  which  knocked  him  over  the  bank 
into  the  river,  while  his  conqueror  sprang  upon  another 
Indian.  Harry,  having  unfortunately  selected  the  biggest 
savage  of  the  band,  as  his  special  property,  rushed  upon 
him  and  dealt  him  a  vigorous  blow  on  the  head  with  his 
paddle. 

The  weapon,  however,  was  made  of  light  wood,  and, 
instead  of  felling  him  to  the  ground,  broke  into  shivers. 
Springing  upon  each  other,  they  immediately  engaged  in 
a  fierce  st"^iggle,  in  which  poor  Hany  learned,  when  too 
late,  that  his  wounded  shoulder  was  almost  powerless. 
Meanwhile,  the  Canadian  having  been  assaulted  by  three 
Indians  at  once,  floored  one  at  the  onset,  and  immediately 
began  an  impromptu  war-dance  round  the  other  two, 
dealing  them  occasionally  a  kick  or  a  blow,  which  would 
speedily  have  rendered  them  liors  de  combat,  had  they  not 
succeeded  in  closing  upon  him,  when  all  three  fell  heavily 
to  the  ground.  Jacques  and  Charley  having  succeeded  in 
overcoming  their  respective  opponents,  immediately  has- 


FROM  TUE  FAR  NORTH. 


373 


tuned  to  his  rescue.  In  the  mean  time,  Harry  and  his 
foe  had  struggled  to  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
others,  gradually  edging  towards  the  river's  bank.  Feel- 
ing faint  from  his  wound,  the  former  at  length  sank 
under  the  weight  of  his  powerful  antagonist,  who  endea- 
voured to  thrust  him  over  a  kind  of  cliflf,  which  they  had 
approached.  He  was  on  the  point  of  accomplishing  his 
purpose,  when  Charley  and  his  friends  perceived  Harry's 
imminent  danger,  and  rushed  to  the  rescue.  Quickly 
though  they  ran,  however,  it  seemed  likely  that  they  would 
be  too  late.  Harry's  head  already  overhung  the  bank, 
and  the  Indian  was  endeavouring  to  loosen  the  gripe  of 
the  young  man's  hand  from  his  throat,  preparatory  to 
tossing  him  over,  when  a  wild  cry  rang  through  the  forest, 
followed  by  the  reports  of  a  double-barrelled  gun,  fired  in 
quick  succession.  Immediately  after,  young  Hamilton 
bounded  like  a  deer  down  the  slope,  seized  the  Indian  by 
the  legs,  and  tossed  him  over  the  cliff,  where  he  turned  a 
complete  summersault  in  his  descent,  and  fell  with  a 
sounding  splash  into  the  water. 

.  "  Well  done,  cleverly  done,  lad !"  cried  Jacques,  as  he 
and  the  rest  of  the  party  came  up  and  crowded  round 
Harry,  who  lay  in  a  state  of  partial  stupor  on  the  bank. 

At  this  moment  Redfeather  hastily  but  silently  ap- 
proached; his  broad  chest  was  heaving  heavily,  and  his 
expanded  nostrils  quivering  with  the  exertions  he  had 
made  to  reach  the  scene  of  action  in  time  to  succour  his 
friends. 

"Thank  God,"  said  Hamilton,  softly,  as  he  kneeled 
beside  Harry,  and  supported  his  head,  while  Charley 
bathed  his  temples,  "thank  God  that  I  have  been  in 
time !    Fortunately  I  was  walking  by  the  river  consider* 


374 


SNOWFLAKES  Am>  SUNBEAMS 


*r 


ably  iu  advance  of  Redfeather,  who  waa  bringing  up  the 
canoe,  when  I  heard  the  sounds  of  the  fray,  and  hastened 
to  your  aid." 

At  this  moment,  Harry  opened  his  eyes,  and,  saying 
faintly  that  he  felt  better,  allowed  himself  to  be  raised  to 
a  sitting  posture,  while  his  coat  was  removed  and  his 
wound  examined.  It  was  found  to  be  a  deep  flesh  wound 
in  the  shoulder,  from  which  a  fragment  of  the  broken 
arrow  still  protruded. 

"  It's  a  wonder  to  me.  Mister  Harry,  how  ye  held  on 
to  that  big  tliief  so  long,"  muttered  Jacques,  as  he  drew 
out  the  splinter  and  bandaged  up  the  shoulder.  Having 
completed  the  surgical  operation  after  a  rough  fashion, 
they  collected  the  defeated  Indians.  Those  of  them  that 
were  able  to  walk,  were  bound  together  by  the  wrists  and 
marched  off  to  the  fort,  under  a  guard  which  was 
strengthened  by  the  arrival  of  >»everal  of  the  fur-traders, 
who  had  been  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives,  and  were 
attracted  to  the  spot  by  the  shouts  of  the  combatants. 
Harry,  and  such  of  the  party  as  were  more  or  less 
severely  injured,  were  placed  in  canoes  and  conveyed  to 
Stoney-creek  by  the  lake,  into  which  Duck  River  runs  at 
the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile  from  the  spot  on  whicli 
the  skirmish  had  taken  place.  Misconna  was  among  tlie 
latter. 

On  arriving  at  Stoney-creok,  the  canoe  party  found  a 
large  assemblage  of  the  natives  awaiting  them  on  the 
wharf,  and,  no  sooner  did  Misconna  land,  than  they  ad- 
vanced to  seize  him. 

"Keep  back,  friends,"  cried  Jacques,  who  perceived 
their  intentions,  and  stepped  hastily  between  them. 
"Come  here,   lads,"  lie  continued,  turning  to  his  coiii- 


!  '^^ 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


375 


panions,  "  surround  Misconna.     He  is  our  prisoner,  and 
must  ha'  fair  justice  done  him,  accordin'  to  white  law." 

They  fell  back  in  silence  on  observing  the  guide's  deter- 
mined manner,  but,  as  they  hurried  the  wretched  culprit 
towards  the  house,  one  of  the  Indians  pressed  close  upon 
their  rear,  and,  before  any  one  could  prevent  him,  dashed 
his  tomahawk  into  Misconna's  brain.  Seeing  that  the 
blow  was  mortal,  the  traders  ceased  to  offer  any  further 
opposition,  and  the  Indians  rushing  upon  his  body,  bore  it 
away  amid  shouts  and  yells  of  execration  to  their  canoes,  to 
one  of  which  the  body  was  fastened  by  a  rope,  and  dragged 
through  the  water  to  a  point  of  land  that  jutted  out  into 
the  lake  near  at  hand.  Here  they  lighted  a  lire  and 
burned  it  to  ashes. 

«  •  »  »  *  * 

There  seems  to  be  a  period  in  the  history  of  eveiy  one, 
when  the  fair  aspect  of  tiiis  world  is  darkened ;  when 
everything,  whether  past,  present,  or  future,  assumes  a 
hue  of  the  deepest  gloom — a  period  when,  for  the  first 
time,  the  sun,  wliich  has  shone  in  the  mental  firmament 
with  more  or  less  brilliancy  from  childhood  upwards, 
entirely  disappears  behind  a  cloud  of  thick  darkness,  and 
leaves  the  soul  in  a  state  of  deep  melancholy — a  time  when 
feelings  somewhat  akin  to  despair  pervade  us,  as  we  begin 
gradually  to  look  upon  the  past  as  a  bright,  happy  vision, 
out  of  which  we  have  at  last  awakened  to  view  the  sad 
realities  of  the  present,  and  look  forward  with  sinking 
hope  to  the  future.  Various  are  the  causes  which  pro- 
duce this,  and  diverse  the  effects  of  it  on  differently  con- 
stituted minds;  but  there  are  few,  we  apprehend,  who 
have  not  passed  through  the  cloud  in  one  or  other  of  its 
phases,  and  who  do  not  feel  that  this  Jirst  period  of 


r  " 


I     - 


376 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


pi'ulougcd  sorro\¥  is  darker,  and  heavier,  and  worse  to 
boar,  than  many  of  the  more  truly  grievous  ufllictionB 
that  sooner  or  later  fall  to  the  lot  of  most  men. 

Into  a  state  of  mind  somewhat  similar  to  that  which 
we  have  endeavoured  to  describe,  our  friend  Charley  Ken- 
nedy  fell  immediately  after  the  events  just  narrated.  The 
sudden  and  awful  death  of  his  friend  Mr  Whyte  fell  upon 
his  young  spirit,  unaccustomed  as  ho  was  to  scones  of 
bloodshed  and  violence,  with  overwhelming  power.  From 
the  depression,  however,  which  naturally  followed,  he 
would  probably  soon  have  rallied  had  not  Harry  Somcr- 
ville's  wound  in  the  shoulder  taken  an  unfavourable  turn, 
and  obliged  him  to  remain  for  many  weeks  in  bed,  under 
the  influence  of  a  slow  fever,  so  that  Charley  felt  a  desola- 
tion creeping  over  his  soul,  that  no  effort  he  was  capable 
of  making  could  shake  off.  It  is  true,  he  found  both 
occupation  and  pleasure  in  attending  upon  his  sick  friend ; 
but  as  Harry's  illness  rendered  great  quiet  necessary, 
and  as  Hamilton  had  been  sent  to  take  charge  of  the 
fishing-station  mentioned  in  a  former  chapter,  Charley 
was  obliged  to  indulge  his  gloomy  reveries  in  silence.  To 
add  to  his  wretchedness,  he  received  a  letter  from  Kate 
about  a  week  after  Mr  Whyte's  burial,  telling  him  of  the 
death  of  his  mother. 

Meanwhile,  Redfeather  and  Jacques, — both  of  whom,  at 
their  young  master's  earnest  solicitation,  agreed  to  winter 
at  Stoney-creek, — cultivated  each  other's  acquaintance 
sedulously.  There  were  no  books  of  any  kind  at  the  out- 
post, excepting  three  Bibles — one  belonging  to  Charley, 
and  one  to  Harry,  the  third  being  that  which  had  been  pre- 
sented to  Jacques  by  Mr  Conway  the  missionary.  This 
single  volume,  however,  proved  to  be  an  ample  library  to 


FHOM  TUR  FAR  NOIITIT. 


37 


Jacques  and  ;  iIb  Indian  friend.  Neither  of  these  Rons  of 
the  forest  were  much  accustomed  to  reading ;  and  neither 
of  them  would  have  for  a  moment  entertained  the  idea  of 
taking  to  literature  as  a  pastime ;  but  Rcdfoather  loved 
the  Bible  for  the  sake  of  the  great  truths  which  he  dis- 
covered in  its  inspired  pages,  though  much  of  what  he 
read  was  to  him  mysterious  and  utterly  incomprehensible. 
Jacques,  on  the  other  hand,  read  it,  or  listened  to  his 
friend,  with  that  philosophic  gravity  of  countenance,  and 
earnestness  <  ^  .Purpose,  which  he  displayed  in  regard  to 
everything ;  and  deep,  serious,  and  protracted  were  the 
discussions  they  plunged  into,  as,  night  after  night,  they 
sat  on  a  log,  with  the  Bible  spread  out  before  them,  and 
read  by  the  light  of  the  blazing  fire,  in  the  men's  house  at 
Stonoy-creek.  Their  intercourse,  however,  was  brought 
to  an  abrupt  conclusion  by  the  unexpected  arrival,  one 
day,  of  Mr  Conway,  the  missionary,  in  his  tin  canoe.  This 
gentleman's  appearance  was  most  welcome  to  all  partici?. 
It  was  like  a  bright  ray  of  sunshine  to  Charley,  to  meet  with 
one  who  could  fully  sympathise  with  him  in  his  present 
sorrowful  frame  of  mind.  It  was  an  event  of  some  conse« 
quence  to  Harry  Somerville,  inasmuch  as  it  provided  him 
with  an  amateur  doctor,  who  really  understood  somewliat 
of  his  physical  complaint,  and  was  able  to  pour  balm,  at 
once  literally  and  spiritually,  into  his  wounds.  -It  was 
an  event  productive  of  the  liveliest  satisfiiction  to  Red- 
feather,  who  now  felt  assured  that  his  tribe  would  hnw 
those  mysteries  explained,  which  he  only  imperfectly 
understood  himself;  and  it  was  an  event  of  much  rejoic- 
ing to  the  Indians  themselves,  because  their  curiosity  had 
been  not  a  little  roused  by  what  they  heard  of  the  doings 
and  sayings  of  the  white  missionary,  who  lived  on  the 

25 


378 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


borders  of  the  great  lake.  The  only  jiereon,  perhaps, 
oil  whom  Mr  Conway's  arrival  acted  with  other  than  a 
pleasing  influence,  was  Jacques  Caradoc.  This  worthy, 
although  glad  to  meet  with  a  man  whom  he  felt  inclined 
both  to  love  and  respect,  was  by  no  means  gratified  to 
find  that  his  friend  Redfeather  had  agreed  to  go  with  tlie 
missionary  on  his  visit  to  the  Indian  tribe,  and  thereafter 
to  accompany  him  to  the  settlement  on  Playgreeu 
Lake.  But,  with  the  stoicism  that  was  natural  to  hiiu, 
Jacques  submitted  to  circumstances  which  he  could  not 
alter,  and  contented  himself  with  assuring  RedfoatlitT 
that  if  he  lived  till  next  spring,  he  would  most  certainly 
"  make  tracks  for  the  great  lake,"  and  settle  down  at  tlio 
missionary's  station  along  with  him.  This  promise  was 
made  at  the  end  of  the  wharf  of  Stoney-creek,  the  morning 
on  which  Mr  Conway  and  his  party  embarked  in  their 
tin  canoe, — the  same  tin  canoe  at  which  -Jacques  had  curled 
his  nose  contemptuously  when  he  saw  it  in  process  of 
1  »eing  constructed,  and  at  which  he  did  not  by  any  means 
curl  it  the  less  contemptuously  now  that  he  saw  it  finished. 
'JMie  little  craft  answered  its  purpose  marvellously  well, 
however,  and  bounded  lightly  away  under  the  vigorous 
strokes  of  its  crew,  leaving  Charley  and  Jacques  on  the 
])ier  gazing  wistfully  after  their  friends,  and  listening  sadlv 
to  the  echoes  of  their  parting  song,  as  it  floated  more  and 
more  fointly  over  the  lake. 

Winter  came ;  but  no  ray  of  sunshine  broke  througli 
tlie  dark  cloud  that  hung  over  Stoney-creek.  Harry 
Somerville,  instead  of  becoming  better,  grew  worse  and 
vorse  every  day,  so  that  when  Charley  despatched  tlio 
winter  packet,  he  represented  the  illness  of  his  friend  to 
t);e  powers  at  head-quarters  as  being  of  a  nature  that  re- 


FUOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


379 


quired  serious  and  immediate  attention,  and  change  of 
scene.  But  the  word  immediate  bears  a  slightly  different 
sifjnification  in  the  backwoods  to  what  it  does  in  the  lands 
of  railroads  and  steamboats.  The  letter  containing  this 
hint  took  many  weeks  to  traverae  the  waste  wilderness  to 
its  destination — months  passed  before  the  reply  was 
written,  and  many  weeks  more  elapsed  ere  its  contents 
were  perused  by  Charley  and  his  friend.  When  they  did 
read  it,  however,  the  dark  cloud  that  had  hung  over  them 
so  long  bui'st  at  last — ^a  ray  of  sunshine  streamed  down 
Itrightly  upon  theii*  huai-ts,  and  never  forsook  them  again, 
although  it  did  lose  a  little  of  its  brilliancy  after  the  first 
tiiish.  It  was  on  a  rich,  dewy,  cheerful  morning  in  early 
s])i-ing  when  the  packet  arrived,  and  Charley  led  Harry, 
who  was  slowly  recovering  his  wonted  health  and  spirits, 
to  their  favourite  rocky  resting-place  on  the  margin  of  the 
lake.  Here  he  placed  the  letter  in  his  friend's  hand,  witL 
a  smile  of  genuine  delight.     It  ran  as  follows  : — 


m 


Iv  worse  aiul 


JMy  dear  Sir, — Your  letter,  containing  the  accouTit 
of  Mr  Somerville's  illness,  has  been  forwarded  to  me ;  and 
I  am  instructed  to  inform  you  that  leave  of  absence,  for  a 
short  time,  has  been  granted  to  him.  I  have  had  a  con- 
versation with  the  doctor  here,  who  advises  me  to  recom- 
mend that,  if  your  friend  has  no  other  summer  residence 
ill  view,  he  should  spend  part  of  his  time  in  Red  River 
settlement.  In  the  event  of  his  agreeing  to  this,  I  would 
suggest  that  he  should  leave  Stoney-creek  with  the  first 
brigade  in  spring,  or  by  exi)ress  canoe,  if  you  think  it 
ailvisable. — I  am,  »fec. 


"  Short  but  sweet,  uncommonly  sweet!"  said  Harry, 


/•I 


;80 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


as  a  Jeep  flush  of  joy  crimsoned  his  pale  cheeks,  while  his 
own  merry  smile,  that  had  been  absent  for  many  a  wearv 
day,  returned  once  more  to  its  old  haunt,  and  danced 
round  its  accustomed  dimples  like  a  repentant  -.vanderer 
who  has  been  long  absent  from,  and  has  at  last  returned 
to,  his  native  home. 

"  Sweet,  indeed !"  echoed  Charley.  "  But  that's  not  all ; 
here's  another  lump  of  sugar  for  you."  So  saying,  he 
pulled  a  letter  from  his  pocket,  unfolded  it  slowly,  spread 
it  out  on  his  knee,  and,  looking  up  at  his  expectant 
friend,  winked. 

"  Go  on,  Charley ;  pray  don't  tantalise  me." 

"  Tantalise  you  !  My  dear  fellow,  nothing  is  farther 
from  my  thoughts.  Listen  to  this  paragraph  in  my  dear 
old  father's  letter : — 

" '  So,  you  see,  my  dear  Charley,  that  we  have  managed 
to  get  you  appointed  to  the  charge  of  Lower  Foii;  Garrj', 
and  as  I  hear  that  poor  Harry  Somerville  is  to  get  leave 
of  absence,  you  had  better  bring  him  along  with  you.  I 
need  not  add  that  my  house  is  at  his  service  as  long  as  he 
may  wish  lo  remain  in  it.' 

"  There  !  what  think  ye  of  that,  my  boy?"  said 
Charley,  as  he  folded  the  letter,  and  returned  it  to  his 
pocket. 

"  I  think,"  replied  Harry,  "  that  your  father  is  a  dear 
old  gentleman,  and  I  hope  that  you'll  only  be  half  as  good 
when  you  come  to  his  time  of  life ;  and  I  think  I'm  so 
happy  to-day,  that  I'll  be  able  to  walk  without  the 
assistance  of  your  arm  to-morrow;  and  I  think  we  had 
better  go  back  to  the  house  now,  for  I  feel,  oddly  enough, 
as  tired  as  if  I  had  had  a  long  w^alk.  Ah  !  Charley, 
my  dear  fellow,  that  letter  will  prove  to  be  the  beFt 


FIIOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


381 


doctor  r  have  bad  yet.  But  now  tell  me  what  you 
intend  to  dc." 

Charley  assisted  his  friend  to  rise,  and  led  him  slowly 
back  to  the  house,  as  he  replied — 

"  Do,  my  boy  ?  That's  soon  said.  I'll  make  things 
square  and  straight  at  Stoney-creek;  I'll  send  for  Hamilton, 
and  make  him  interim  commander-in-chief;  I'll  write 
two  letters,  one  to  the  gentleman  ir.  charge  of  the  district, 
telling  him  of  my  movements ;  the  other  (containing  a 
screed  of  formal  instructions)  to  the  miserable  mortal 
who  shall  succeed  me  here ;  I'll  take  the  best  canoe  in 
our  store,  load  it  with  provisions,  put  you  carefiilly  in 
the  middle  of  it,  stick  Jacques  in  the  bow,  and  myself  in 
the  stern,  and  start,  two  weeks  hence,  neck  and  crop, 
liead  over  heels,  through  thick  and  thin,  wet  and  dry, 
o^'er  portage,  river,  fall,  and  lake,  for  Red  River  settle- 
ment ! "  >  .    ^ 


i;  1 


I 


382 


/• 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAllS 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Old  friends  and  scenes;  coining  events  cast  their  shadows  before. 

Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  was  seated  in  his  own  comfortable 
arm-chair  before  the  fire,  in  his  own  cheerful  little  par- 
lour, in  his  own  snug  house,  at  Red  River;  with  his  own 
highly  characteristic  breakfast  of  buffalo-steaks,  tea,  and 
pemican  before  him,  and  his  own  beautiful,  affectionate 
daughter  Kate  presiding  over  the  tea-pot,  and  exercising 
\mwan-antably  despotic  sway  over  a  large  gray  cat,  whose 
sole  happiness  seemed  to  consist  in  subjecting  Mr  Kennedy 
to  perpetual  annoyance,  and  whose  main  object  in  life 
was  to  catch  its  master  and  mistress  off  their  guard,  that 
it  might  go  quietly  to  the  table,  the  meat-safe,  or  the 
pantry,  and  there  — deliberately — steal ! 

Kate  had  grown  very  much  since  we  saw  her  last. 
She  was  quite  a  woman  now,  and  well  worthy  of  a 
minute  description  here;  but  we  never  could  describe  a 
woman  to  our  own  satisfaction.  We  have  frequently 
tried  and  failed ;  so  we  substitute,  in  place,  the  remarks  of 
Kate's  friends  and  acquaintances  about  her — a  criterion 
on  which  to  form  a  judgment,  that  is  a  pretty  coiTect 
one,  especially  when  the  opinion  pronounced  happens  to 
be  favourable.  Her  father  said  she  was  an  angel,  and 
the  only  joy  of  his  life.  This  latter  expression,  we  may 
remark,  was  false;  for  Mr  Kennedy  frequently  said  to 
Kate,  confidentially,  that  Charley  was  a  great  happiness  to 
him ;  and  we  are  quite  sure  that  the  pipe  had  something 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


383 


to  do  with  the  felicity  of  his  existence.  But  the  old 
gentleman  said  that  Kate  was  the  only  joy  of  his  life,  and 
that  is  all  we  have  to  do  with  at  present.  Several  ill- 
tempered  old  ladies  in  the  settlement  said  that  Miss 
Kennedy  was  really  a  quiet  modest  girl  ] — testimony 
tliis  (considering  the  source  whence  it  came)  that  wjus 
quite  conclusive.  Then,  old  Mr  Grant  remarked  to  old  Mr 
Kennedy,  over  a  confidential  pipe,  that  Kate  was  cer- 
tainly, in  his  opinion,  the  most  modest  and  the  prettiest 
girl  in  Red  River.  Her  old  school  companions  called 
her  a  darling.  Tom  Whyte  said  "  he  never  see'd  nothink 
like  her  nowhere."  The  clerks  spoke  of  her  in  terms  too 
glowing  to  remember;  and  the  last  arrival  among  them, 
the  youngest,  with  the  slang  of  the  "  old  country  "  fresh 
on  his  lips,  called  her  a  stunner!  Even  Mrs  Grant  got  up 
one  of  her  half-expressed  remarks  about  her,  which  every- 
body would  have  supposed  to  be  quizzical  in  its  nature, 
were  it  not  for  the  frequent  occurrence  of  the  terms  "  good 
girl,"  "  innocent  creature,"  which  seemed  to  contradict 
that  idea.  There  were  also  one  or  two  hapless  swains 
who  said  nothing,  but  what  they  did  and  looked  was,  in 
itself,  unequivocal.  They  went  quietly  into  a  state  of 
kIow,  di'ivelling  imbecility  whenever  they  happened  to 
meet  with  Kate ;  looked  as  if  they  had  become  shockingly 
unwell,  and  were  rather  pleased  than  otherwise  that  their 
friends  should  think  so,  too;  and,  upon  all  and  every  occa- 
sion in  which  Kate  was  concerned,  conducted  themselves 
with  an  amount  of  insane  stupidity  (although  sane  enough 
at  other  times),  that  nothing  could  account  for,  save  the 
idea  that  their  admiration  of  her  was  inexpressible,  and 
that  that  was  the  most  effective  way  in  which  they  could 
express  it. 


384 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  Kate,  my  darling,"  said  Mr  Kennedy,  as  he  finished 
the  last  mouthful  of  tea,  "  wouldn't  it  be  capital  to  got 
another  letter  from  Charley  ? " 

"  Yes,  dear  papa  ;  it  would,  indeed  1  But  I  am  quite 
sure  that  the  next  time  we  shall  hear  from  him  will  be 
when  he  anives  here,  and  makes  the  house  ring  with  liis 
own  dear  voice." 

"  How  so,  girl  ? "  said  the  old  trader,  with  a  smile.  It 
may  as  well  be  remarked  here  that  the  above  opening  of 
couvei-sation  was  by  no  means  new.  It  was  stereotyped 
now.  Ever  since  Charley  had  been  appointed  to  the 
management  of  Lower  Fort  Garry,  his  father  had  been  so 
engrossed  by  the  idea,  and  spoke  of  it  to  Kate  so  fre- 
quently, that  he  had  got  into  a  way  of  feeling  as  if  the 
event  so  much  desired  would  happen  in  a  few  days, 
although  he  knew  quite  well  that  it  could  not,  in  the 
course  of  ordinary  or  extra-ordinary  circumstances,  occur 
ill  less  than  several  months.  However,  as  time  rolled  on, 
he  began  regularly,  every  day  or  two,  to  ask  Kate  ques- 
tions about  Charley  that  she  could  not  by  any  possibility 
answer,  but  which,  he  knew  from  experience,  would  lead 
her  into  a  confabulation  about  his  son,  which  helped  a 
little  to  allay  his  impatience. 

"  Why,  you  see,  father,"  she  replied,  "  it  is  three 
months  since  we  got  his  last,  and  you  know  there  haa 
been  no  opportunity  of  forwarding  letters  from  Stoney- 
creek  since  it  was  despatched.  Now,  the  next  opportu- 
nity that  occurs ^" 

"  Mee-aow ! "  interrupted  the  cat,  which  had  just 
finished  two  pats  of  fresh  butter  without  being  detected, 
and  began,  rather  recklessly,  to  exult. 

"  Hang  that  cat ! "  cried  the  old  gentleman,  angrily, 


PROM  THE  PAR  NORTH. 


385 


three 
Bre  has 
toney- 
portu- 

Ld  just 
kected, 


Ingrily, 


**  it'll  be  the  death  o'  me  yet ; "  and,  seizing  the  firat 
thing  that  came  to  hand,  which  happened  to  be  the  loaf 
of  bread,  discharged  it  with  such  violence,  and  with  so 
correct  an  aim,  that  it  knocked,  not  only  the  cat,  but 
the  tea-pot  and  sugar-bowl  also,  off  the  table. 
"  0  dear  papa  ! "  exclaimed  Kate.  " 

"  Really,  my  dear,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  half-angry  and 
half-ashamed,  "  we  must  get  rid  of  that  brute  immedi- 
ately. It  has  scarcely  been  a  week  here,  and  it  has  done 
more  mischief  already  than  a  score  of  ordinary  cats  would 
have  done  in  a  twelvemonth."  - 

"  But  then,  the  mice,  papa "  ■ 

"Well,  but — but — oh!  hang  the  mice  !" 
"  Yes ;  but  how  are  we  to  catch  them  1 "  said  Kate. 
At  this  moment,  the  cook,  who  had  heard  the  sound  of 
breaking  crockery,  and  judged  it  expedient  that  he  ^hould 
be  present,  opened  the  door.  .     ^.i 

"  How  now,  rascal!"  exclaimed  his  master,  striding  up 
to  him.     "  Did  I  ring  for  you  ?  eh  ]  " 

"No,  sir;  but "  .    .        .  ,    : 

"  But !  eh !  but !  no  more  buts,  you  scoundrel,   else 


I'll 


The  motion  of  Mr  Kennedy's  fist  warned  the  cook  to 
make  a  precipitate  retreat,  which  he  did  at  the  same 
moment  that  the  cat  resolved  to  run  for  its  life.  This 
caused  them  to  meet  in  the  doorway,  and,  making  a  com- 
pound entanglement  with  the  mat,  they  both  fell  into  the 
passage  with  a  loud  crash.  Mr  Kennedy  shut  the  door 
gently,  and  returned  to  his  chair,  patting  Kate  on  the 
head  as  he  passed. 

"  Now,  darling,  go  on  with  what  you  were  saying  ; 
and  don't  mind  the  tea-pot — let  it  lie." 


/■•• 


38G 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"  Well,"  resumed  Kate,  with  a  smile,  "  I  was  sa3ring 
that  the  next  opportunity  Charley  can  have  will  be  by 
the  brigade  in  spring,  which  we  expect  to  arrive  hero, 
you  know,  a  month  hence,  but  we  won't  get  a  letter  by 
that,  as  I  feel  convinced  that  he  and  Harry  will  come  by 
it  themselves."        i 

"  And  the  express  canoe,  Kate — the  express  canoe," 
said  Mr  Kennedy,  with  a  contortion  of  the  left  side  of 
his  head  that  was  intended  for  a  wink, — "you  know  they 
got  leave  to  come  by  express,  Kate." 

"  Oh,  as  to  the  express,  father,  I  don't  expect  them  to 
come  by  that,  as  poor  Harry  Somerville  has  been  so  ill 
that  they  would  never  think  of  venturing  to  subject  him 
to  all  the  discomforts,  not  to  mention  the 'dangers,  of  a 
canoe  voyage." 

"  I  don't  know  that,  lass — I  don't  know  that,"  said  Mr 
Kennedy,  giving  another  contortion  with  his  left  cheek. 
"  In  fact,  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  they  arrived  this  very 
<lay,  and  it's  well  to  be  on  the  look-out,  so  I'm  off  to  the 
banks  of  the  river,  Kate.",  Saying  this,  the  old  gentleman 
threw  on  an  old  fiir  cap  with  the  peak  all  awry,  thrust 
his  left  hand  into  his  right  glove,  put  on  the  other  with 
the  back  to  the  front  and  the  thumb  in  the  middle  finger, 
and  bustled  out  of  the  house,  muttering  as  he  went — 
"  Yes,  its  well  to  be  on  the  look-out  for  him." 

Mr  Kennedy,  however,  was  disappointed ;  Charley  did 
not  arrive  that  day,  nor  the  next,  nor  the  day  after  that. 
Nevertheless  the  Old  gentleman's  faith  each  day  remained 
as  firm  as  on  the  day  previous,  that  Charley  would  arrive 
on  that  day  "  for  certain."  About  a  week  after  this,  Mr 
Kennedy  put  on  his  hat  and  gloves  as  usual,  aiid  saun- 
tered down  to  the  banks  of  the  river,  where  his  persever- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


387 


ance  was  rewarded  by  the  sight  of  a  small  canoe  rapidly 
approaching  the  landing-place.  From  tlie  costume  of 
tlie  three  men  who  propelled  it,  the  cut  of  the  canot^ 
itself,  the  precision  and  energy  of  its  movements,  and 
several  other  minute  points  about  it,  only  apparent  to 
the  accustomed  eye  of  a  norVester,  he  judged  at 
once  that  this  was  a  new  arrival,  and  not  merely  one 
of  the  canoes  belonging  to  the  settlers,  many  of  which 
might  be  seen  passing  up  and  down  the  river.  As  they 
drew  near,  he  fixed  his  eyes  eagerly  upon  them. 

"  Veiy  odd,"  he  exclaimed,  while  a  shade  of  disappoint- 
ment passed  over  his  brow,  "  it  ought  to  be  him,  but  its 
not  like  him — too  big — difierent  nose  altogether — don't 
know  any  of  the  three — humph ! — ^well,  he's  sure  to  come 
to-morrow,  at  all  events."  Having  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  not  Charley's  canoe,  he  wheeled  sulkily  round 
and  sauntered  back  towards  his  house,  intending  to  solace 
himself  with  a  pipe.  At  that  moment  he  heard  a  shout 
behind  him,  and,  ere  he  could  well  turn  round  to  see 
whence  it  oame,  a  young  man  bounded  up  the  bank  and 
seized  him  in  his  arms  with  a  hug  that  threatened  to 
dislocate  his  ribs.  The  old  gentleman's  first  impidse  was 
to  bestow  on  his  antagonist  (for  he  verily  believed  him  to 
be  such)  one  of  those  vigorous  touches  with  his  clenched 
fist,  which,  in  days  of  yore,  used  to  bring  some  of  his  dis- 
jmtes  to  a  summary  and  effectual  close ;  but  his  intention 
changed  when  the  youth  &poke.  vl 

"  Father,  dear,  dear  father !"  said  Charley,  as  he  loosened 
his  grasp,  and,  still  holding  him  by  both  hands,  looked 
earnestly  into  his  face  with  swimming  eyes. 

Old  Mr  Kennedy  seemed  to  have  lost  his  powers  of 
speech.     He  gazed  at  his  son  for  a  few  seconds  in  silence. 


/» 


388 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


|ii 


tlieu  sudJonly  threw  his  arms  around  him  and  engagi'd 
in  a  species  of  wrestle,  which  he  intended  for  an  em- 
brace. ^  ,# 

"  O  Charley,  my  boy  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  you've  come  at 
List — God  bless  you !  let's  look  at  you — quite  changed — 
six  feet — no,  not  quite  changed — the  old  nose — black  us  an 
Indian.  0  Charley,  my  dear  boy  !  I've  been  waiting  for 
you  for  months ;  why  did  you  keep  me  so  long  1  eh  !  Hang 
it,  whore's  my  handkerchief?"  At  this  last  exclamation, 
Mr  Kennedy's  feelings  quite  overcame  him ;  his  full 
heart  overflowed  at  his  eyes,  so  that  when  he  tried  to  look 
at  his  son,  Charley  appeared  partly  magnified  and  partly 
broken  up  into  fragments.  Fumbling  in  his  pocket  for 
the  missing  handkerchief,  which  he  did  not  find,  he  sud- 
denly seized  his  fur  cap,  in  a  burst  of  exasperation,  and 
wiped  his  eyes  with  that.  Immediately  after,  forgetting 
that  it  was  a  cap,  he  thrust  it  into  his  pocket. 

"  Come,  dear  father,"  cried  Charley,  drawing  the  old 
man's  arm  through  his,  "let  us  go  home.    Is  Kate  there?" 

"  Ay,  ay, "  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  waving  his  hand  as 
lie  was  dragged  away,  and  bestowing,  quite  unwittingly, 
a  back-handed  slap  on  the  cheek  to  Harry  Somerville, 
which  nearly  felled  that  youth  to  the  ground.  "  Ay,  ay  ! 
Kate,  to  be  sure,  darling ;  yes,  quite  right,  Charley ;  a  pipe 
— that's  it  my  boy,  let's  have  a  pipe  ! "  And  thus,  uttering 
incohereit  and  broken  sentences,  he  disappeared  through 
the  doorway  with  his  long  lost  and  now  recovered  son. 

Meanwhile  Harry  and  Jacques  continued  to  pace 
quietly  before  the  house,  waiting  patiently  until  the  first 
ebullition  of  feeling,  at  the  meeting  of  Charley  with  his 
father  and  sister,  should  be  over.  In  a  few  minutes 
Cliarley  ran  o;it. 


FKOM  THE  FAR  NORTU. 


389 


"  Hallo,  Harry  !  come  in,  my  boy  ;  forgive  my  forge  t- 
fulnesa,  but ^" 

"  My  dear  fellow,"  interrupted  Harry,  "  what  nonsense 
you  are  talking !  Of  course  you  forgot  me,  and  every- 
body, and  everything  on  earth  just  now ;  but  have  you 
seen  Kate  ?   is " 

"  Yea,  yes,"  cried  Charley,  as  he  pushetl  his  friend 
before  him,  and  dragged  Jacques  after  him  into  the 
parlour.  "Here's  Harry,  father,  and  Jacques;  you've 
heard  of  Jacques,  Kate  ? " 

"  Harry,  my  dear  boy,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  seizing  his 
young  friend  by  the  hand,  "  how  are  you,  lad  1  Better,  I 
hope." 

At  that  moment  Mr  Kennedy's  eye  fell  on  Jacques, 
who  stood  in  the  doorway,  cap  in  hand,  with  the  usual 
quiet  smile  lighting  up  his  countenance. 

"  What !  Jacques !  Jacques  Caradoc  ! "  he  cried,  in 
astonishment. 

"  The  same,  sir ;  you  an'  I  have  know'd  each  other  afore 
now  in  the  way  o'  trade,"  answered  the  hunter,  as  ho 
grasped  his  old  bourgeois  by  the  hand,  and  wrung  it 
warmly. 

Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  was  so  overwhelmed  by  the  com- 
bination of  exciting  influences  to  which  he  was  noyr 
subjected,  that  he  plunged  his  hand  into  his  pocket  for 
the  handkerchief  again,  and  pulled  out  the  fur  hat  in- 
stead, which  he  flung  angrUy  at  the  cat ;  then,  using  the 
sleeve  of  his  coat  as  a  substitute,  he  proceeded  to  put  a 
series  of  abrupt  questions  to  Jacques  and  Charley  simul- 
taneously. .  '   .  - 

In  the  mean  time,  Harry  went  up  to  Kate  and  stared 
at  her.     We  do  not  mean  to  say  that  he  was  intentionally 


300 


SNOWFLAKKS  AND  SUNBEAMS 


rude  to  her.  No!  Ho  went  towards  her  intondinpf 
to  shake  hands,  and  renew  acquaintance  witli  his  old 
companion ;  but  the  moment  he  caught  sight  of  her,  ho 
was  struck  not  only  dumb,  but  motionless.  The  odd 
part  of  it  was  that  Kate,  too,  was  affected  in  precisely 
the  same  way,  and  both  of  them  exclaimed  mentally,  "Can 
it  be  possible?"  Their  lips,  however,  gave  no  utteraiicK 
to  the  question.  At  length  Kate  recollected  herself,  and 
blushing  deeply,  held  out  her  hand,  as  she  said — 

"  Forgive  me,  Har — Mr  Somerville,  I  was  so  surprised 
at  your  altered  appearance,  I  could  scarcely  believe  that 
my  old  friend  stood  before  me." 

Harry's  cheeks  crimsoned,  as  he  seized  her  hand  and 
said — "  Indeed,  Ka — a — Miss — that  is,  in  fact,  I've  been 
very  ill,  and  doubtless  h'l./e  changed  somewhat;  but  the 
very  same  thought  struck  me  in  regard  to  yourself,  you 
are  so~so "  :  v  »  ' 

Fortunately  for  Harry,  who  was  gradually  becoming 
more  and  more  confused,  to  the  amusement  of  Charley, 
who  had  closely  observed  the  meeting  of  his  friend  and 
sister,  Mr  Kennedy  came  up.  .     » 

"  Eh !  what's  that?  "What  did  you  say  struck  you,  Harry, 
mylad?"     .    . ,    ^v       -  '  ■      ' 

"  You  did,  father,  on  his  arrival,"  replied  Charley,  witli 
a  broad  grin,  "  and  a  veiy  neat  back-hander  it  was." 

"  Nonsense,  Charley,"  interrupted  Harry,  with  a  laugh, 
"  I  was  just  saying,  sir,  that  Miss  Kennedy  is  so  changed 
that  I  could  hardly  believe  it  to  be  herself." 

"  And  I  had  just  paid  Mr  Somerville  the  same  compli- 
ment, papa,"  cried  Kate,  laughing  and  blushing  simul- 
taneously. 

Mr  Kennedy  thnist  his  hands  into  his  pockets,' frowned 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


88!l 


M 


portentously  as  he  looked  from  the  one  to  the  otlier,  and 
said,  slowly,  "  Miss  Kennedy,  Mr  Somorvillo ! "  then 
turning  to  his  son,  remarked — "  That's  something  new, 
Cliarloy,  lad ;  that  girl  is  Mm  Kennedy,  and  that  yo\ith 
there  is  Mr  Somervillel" 

Charley  laughed  loudly  at  this  sally,  especially  when 
the  old  gentleman  followed  it  up  with  a  series  of  contor- 
tions of  the  left  cheek,  meant  for  violent  winking. 

"  Right,  father,  right,  it  won't  do  hero.  We  don't 
know  anybody  but  Kate  and  Harry  in  this  house." 

Harry  laughed  in  his  own  genuine  style  at  this. 

"  Well,  Kate  be  it,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  he ; 
"  but,  really,  at  first  she  seemed  so  unlike  the  Kate  (►f 
former  days,  that  1  could  not  bring  myself  to  call  her 
so," 

"  Humph  ! "  said  Mr  Kennedy.  "  But  come,  boy?*, 
with  me  to  my  smoking  room,  and  let's  have  a  talk  over 
a  pipe,  while  Kate  looks  after  dinner."  Giving  Charl<?y 
another  squeeze  of  the  hand,  and  Harry  a  pat  on  the 
shoulder,  the  old  gentleman  put  on  his  cap,  (with  the 
peak  behind)  and  led  the  way  to  his  glass  divan  in  the 
garden. 

It  is  perhaps  unnecessary  for  us  to  say,  that  Kate  Kennedy 
and  Harry  Somerville  had,  within  the  last  hour,  fallen 
deeply,  hopelessly,  utterly,  irrevocaKly,  and  totally  in 
love  with  each  other.  They  did  not  merely  fall  up  to 
the  ears  in  love.  To  say  that  they  fell  over  head  and  ears 
in  it  would  be,  comparatively  speaking,  ta  say  nothing. 
In  fact,  they  did  not  fall  into  it  at  all.  They  went 
deliberately  backwards,  took  a  long  race,  sprang  high 
into  the  air,  turned  completely  round,  and  went  down 
head  first  into  the  flood,  dsfwjevjding  to  a  depth  utterly 


392 


/*•• 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


beyond  the  power  of  any  deep-sea-lead  to  fathom,  or  of 
any  human  mind  adequately  to  appreciate.  Up  to  that 
day,  Kate  had  thought  of  Harry  as  the  hila,i*iou3  youth 
who  used  to  take  every  opportunity  he  could  of  escaping 
from  the  counting-room  and  hastening  to  spend  the  after- 
noon in  rambling  through  the  woods  with  her  and 
Charley.  But  the  instant  she  saw  him,  a  man — with  a 
bright  cheerful  countenance,  on  which  rough  living  and 
exposure  to  frequent  peril  had  stamped  unmistakable 
lines  of  energy  and  decision,  and  to  which  recent  illness 
had  imparted  a  captivating  touch  of  sadness, — the  moment 
she  beheld  this,  and  the  undeniable  scrap  of  whisker  that 
graced  his  cheeks,  and  the  slight  shade  that  rested  on  his 
upper  lip,  her  heart  leapt  violently  into  her  thi'oat,  where 
it  stuck  hard  and  fast,  like  a  stranded  ship  on  a  lea- 
shore. 

In  like  manner,  when  Harry  beheld  his  former  friend, 
a  woman — with  beaming  eyes  and  clustering  ringlets, 
and — (there,  we  won't  attempt  it !) — ^in  fact,  surrounded  by 
every  nameless  and  nameable  grace  that  makes  woman 
ciasperatingly  delightful,  his  heart  performed  the  same 
eccentric  movement,  and  he  felt  that  his  fate  was  sealed, 
that  he  had  been  sucked  into  a  rapid  which  was  too 
strong  even  for  his  expert  and  powerful  arm  to  contend 
against,  and  that  he  must  drift  with  the  current  now, 
nolens  volens,  and  run  it  as  he  best  could. 

"When  Kate  retired  to  her  sleeping  apartment  that 
night,  she  endeavoured  to  comport  herself  in  her  usual 
manner ;  but  all  her  efforts  faUed.  She  sat  down  on  her 
bed  and  remained  motionless  for  half  an  hour,  then  she 
started  and  sighed  deeply;  then  she  smiled  and  opened 
her  Bible,  but  forgot  to  read  it  j  then  she  rose  hastily, 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


393 


sighed  again,  took  off  her  gown,  hung  it  up  on  a  peg,  and, 
returning  to  the  dressing  table,  sat  down  on  her  best 
bonnet ;  then  she  cried  a  little,  at  which  point  the  candle 
suddenly  went  out,  so  she  gave  a  slight  scream,  and  at 
last  went  to  bed  in  the  dark. 

Three  hours  afterwards,  Harry  Somerville,  who  had 
been  enjoying  a  cigar  and  a  chat  with  Charley  and  his 
father,  rose,  and,  bidding  his  friends  good-night,  retired 
to  his  chamber,  where  he  flung  himself  down  on  a  chair, 
thrust  his  hands  into  his  pockets,  stretched  out  his  legs, 
gazed  abstractedly  before  him,  and  exclaimed — "O 
Kate  !  my  exquisite  girl,  you've  floored  me  quite  flat!" 

As  he  continued  to  sit  in  silence,  the  gaze  of  afiection 
gradually  and  slowly  changed  into  a  look  of  intense 
astonishment  as  he  beheld  the  gray  cat  sitting  comfort- 
ably on  the  table,  and  regarding  him  with  a  look  of  com- 
placent interest,  as  if  it  thought  Harry's  style  of  address- 
ing it  was  highly  satisfactory — though  rather  unusual. 

"  Brute ! "  exclaimed  Harry,  springing  from  his  seat, 
and  darting  towards  it.  But  the  cat  was  too  well  accus- 
tomed to  old  Mr  Kennedy's  sudden  onsets  to  be  easily 
taken  by  suri)rise.  With  a  bound  it  reached  the  floor, 
and  took  shelter  under  the  bed,  whence  it  was  not  ejected 
imtil  Harry,  having  first  thrown  his  shoes,  soap,  clothes- 
brush,  and  razor-strop  at  it,  besides  two  or  three  books, 
and  several  miscellaneous  articles  of  toilet — at  last 
opened  the  door  (a  thing,  by  the  way,  that  people  would 
do  well  always  to  remember  before  endeavouring  to 
expel  a  cat  from  an  impregnable  position)  and  drew  the 
bed  into  the  middle  of  the  room.  Then,  but  not  till 
then,  it  fled,  with  its  back,  its  tail,  its  hair,  its  eyes — in 

short,  its  entire  body,  bristling  in  rampant  indignation, 
2c 


394 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


Having  dislodged  the  enemy,  Harry  re-placed  the  bed, 
threw  off  his  coat  and  waistcoat,  untied  his  neckcloth, 
sat  down  on  his  chair  again,  and  fell  into  a  reverie ;  from 
which,  after  half  an  hour,  he  started,  clasped  his  hands, 
stamped  his  foot,  glared  up  at  the  ceiling,  slapped  his 
thigh,  and  exclaimed,  in  the  voice  of  a  hero — "  Yes,  I'll 
do  it,  or  die  ! " 


FROM  THE  FAB  NOUTII. 


dU5 


!■( 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


The  first  day  at  home;  a  gallop  in  the  prairie,  and  its  consequences. 

Next  morning,  as  the  quartette  were  at  breakfast,  Mr 
Kennedy,  senior,  took  occasion  to  propound  to  his  son 
the  plans  he  had  laid  down  for  them  during  the  next 


Wic 


Li^ 


the  first  place,  Charley,  my  boy,"  said  he,  as  well 
as  a  large  mouthful  of  buffalo  steak  and  potato  would 
permit,  "  you  must  drive  up  to  the  fort  and  report  your- 
self;  Harry  and  I  will  go  with  you,  and,  after  we  have 
paid  our  respects  to  old  Grant,  (another  cup  of  tea,  Kate, 
my  darling,)  you  recollect  him,  Charley,  don't  you  1" 

"  Yes,  perfectly." 

"  "Well,  then,  after  we've  been  to  see  him,  we'll  drive 
down  the  river,  and  call  on  our  friends  at  the  mill.  Then 
we'll  look  in  on  the  Thomsons ;  and  give  a  call,  in  passing, 
on  old  Neverin — he's  always  out,  so  he'll  be  pleased  to 
hear  we  were  there,  and  it  won't  detain  us.    Then " 

"  But,  dear  father,  excuse  my  interruj)ting  you,  Harry 
and  I  are  very  anxious  to  spend  our  first  day  at  home 
entirely  with  you  and  Kate.  Don't  you  think  it  would 
be  more  pleasant  ?  and  then,  to-morrow " 

"  Now,  Charley,  this  is  too  bad  of  you,"  said  Mr 
Kennedy,  with  a  look  of  affected  indignation;  "no  sooner 
have  you  come  back,  than  you're  at  your  old  tricks, 
opposing  and  thwarting  your  father's  -^fSTishes." 


# 


396 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


c 


"  Indeed,  I  do  not  wish  to  do  so,  father,"  replied 
Charley,  with  a  smile ;  "  but  I  thought  that  you  would 
like  my  plan  better  yourself,  and  that  it  would  afford  us 
an  opportunity  of  having  a  good,  long,  satiafactoiy  talk 
about  all  that  concerns  us,  past,  present,  and  future." 

"  What  a  daring  mind  you  have,  Charley,"  said  Harry, 
"  to  speak  of  cramming  a  satisfactory  talk  of  the  past, 
the  present,  and  the  future  all  into  one  day !" 

"Harry  will  take  another  cup  of  tea,  Kate,"  said 
Charley,  with  an  arch  smile,  as  he  went  on — 

"  Besides,  father,  Jacques  tells  me  that  he  means  to  go 
off  immediately,  to  visit  a  number  of  his  old  voyageur 
friends  in  the  settlement,  and  I  cannot  part  with  him 
till  we  have  had  one  more  canter  together  over  the 
prairies.  I  want  to  shew  him  to  Kate,  for  he's  a  great 
original." 

"Oh  !  that  will  be  charming!"  cried  Kate.  "I  should 
like  of  all  things  to  be  introduced  to  the  bold  hunter ; — 
another  cup  of  tea,  Mr  S — Harry,  I  mean  1 " 

Harry  started  on  being  thus  unexpectedly  addressed. 
"  Yes,  if  you  please — that  is — thank  you — no,  my  cup's 
full  already,  Kate!" 

"  Well,  well,"  broke  in  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  "  I  see 
you're  all  leagued  against  me,  so  I  give  in.  But  I  shall 
not  accompany  you  on  your  ride,  as  my  bones  are  a  little 
stiffer  than  they  I'^ed  to  be  "  (the  old  gentleman  sighed 
heavily),  "  and  riding  far  knocks  me  up ; — but  IVe  got 
business  to  attend  to  in  my  glass  house  which  will  occupy 
me  till  dinner-time." 

"  If  the  business  you  speak  of,"  began  Charley,  "  is  not 
incompatible  with  a  cigar,  I  shall  bo  happy  to ■ 

"  Why,  as  to  that,  the  business  itself  has  special  i-efe- 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


397 


t«nce  to  tobacco,  and,  in  fact,  to  nothing  else ;  so  come 
along,  you  young  dog,"  and  the  old  gentleman's  cheek 
went  into  violent  convulsions  as  he  rose,  put  on  his  cap, 
with  the  peak  very  much  over  one  eye,  and  went  out  in 
company  with  the  young  men. 

An  hour  afterwards,  four  horses  stood  saddled  and 
bridled  in  front  of  the  house.  Three  belonged  to  Mr 
Kennedy ;  the  fourth  had  been  borrowed  from  a  neigh- 
bour as  a  mount  for  Jacques  Caradoc.  In  a  few  minutes 
more,  Harry  lifted  Kate  into  the  saddle,  and,  having 
arranged  her  dress  with  a  deal  of  unnecessary  care, 
mounted  his  nag.  At  the  same  moment,  Charley  and 
Jacques  vaulted  into  their  saddles,  and  the  whole  caval- 
cade galloped  down  the  avenue  that  led  to  the  prairie, 
followed  by  the  admiring  gaze  of  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  who 
stood  in  the  doorway  of  his  mansion,  his  hands  in  his  vest 
pockets,  his  head  uncovered,  and  his  happy  visage  smiling 
through  a  cloud  of  smoke  that  issued  from  his  lips.  He 
seemed  the  very  personification  of  jovial  good-humour,  and 
what  one  might  suppose  Cupid  would  become,  were  he  per- 
mitted to  grow  old,  dress  recklessly,  and  take  to  smoking  ! 

The  prairies  were  bright  that  morning,  and  surpassingly 
beautiful.  The  grass  looked  greener  than  usual,  the  dew- 
drops  more  brilliant  as  they  sparkled  on  leaf  and  blade 
and  branch  in  the  rays  of  an  unclouded  sun.  The  turf 
felt  springy,  and  the  horses,  which  were  first-rate  animals, 
seemed  to  dance  over  it,  scarce  crushing  the  wildflowers 
beneath  their  hoofs,  as  they  galloped  lightly  on,  imbued 
with  the  same  joyous  feeling  that  filled  the  hearts  of 
their  riders.  The  plains  at  this  place  were  more  pictu- 
resque than  in  other  parts,  their  uniformity  being  broken 
13|)  by  numerous  clumps  of  small  trees  and  wild  shrub- 


398 


SN0WFLAKE8  AND  SUNBEAMS 


bery,  intermingled  with  lakes  and  ponds,  of  all  sizes, 
which  filled  the  hollows  for  miles  around, — temporary 
sheets  of  water  these,  formed  by  the  melting  snow,  that 
told  of  winter  now  past  and  gone.  Additional  animation 
and  life  was  given  to  the  scene  by  flocks  of  waterfowl, 
it  whose  busy  cry  and  cackle  in  the  water,  or  whirring 
motion  in  the  air,  gave  such  an  idea  of  joyousness  in  the 
brute  creation,  as  could  not  but  strike  a  chord  of  sym- 
pathy in  the  heart  of  man,  and  create  a  feeling  of  grati- 
tude to  the  Maker  of  man  and  beast.  Although  brilliant 
and  warm,  the  sun,  at  least  during  the  first  part  of  their 
'  ride,  was  by  no  means  oppressive;  so  that  the  equestrians 

stretched  out  at  full  gallop  for  many  miles  over  the 
prairie,  round  the  lakes  and  through  the  bushes,  ere  their 
steeds  shewed  the  smallest  symptoms  of  warmth. 

During  the  ride,  Kate  took  the  lead,  with  Jacques  on 
her  left  and  Harry  on  her  right,  while  Charley  brought 
up  the  rear,  and  conversed  in  a  loud  key  with  all  three. 
At  length  Kate  began  to  think  it  was  just  possible  the 
horses  might  be  growing  wearied  with  the  slapping  pace, 
^  and  checked  her  steed  ;  but  this  was  not  an  easy  matter, 

^  as  the  horee  seemed  to  hold  quite  a  contrary  opinion,  and 

shewed  a  desire,  not  only  to  continue,  but  to  increase  its 
gallop, — a  propensity  that  induced  Harry  to  lend  his  aid 
by  gi'asping  the  rein,  and  compelling  the  animal  to  walk. 

"  That's  a  spirited  horse,  Kate,"  said  Charley,  as  they 
ambled  along, — "  have  you  had  him  long  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  Kate ;  "  our  father  purciiased  him  just 
a  week  before  your  arrival,  thinking  that  you  would 
likely  want  a  charger  now  and  then.  I  have  only  been 
en  him  once  before.  Would  he  make  a  good  buflfalo- 
runner,  Jacques  V* 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


399 


"Yes,  Miss,  he  would  make  an  uncommon  good 
runner,"  answered  the  hunter,  as  he  regarded  the  animal 
with  a  critical  glance, — "at  least,  if  he  don't  shy  at  a 
gunshot."  t.  >, 

"  I  never  tried  his  nerves  in  that  way,"  said  Kate, 
with  a  smile ;  "  perhaps  he  would  shy  at  that :  he  has  a 
good  deal  of  spirit— oh,  I  do  dislike  a  lazy  horse,  and  I 
do  delight  in  a  spirited  one ! "  Kate  gave  her  horse  a 
smart  cut  with  the  whip,  half  involuntarily,  as  she  spoke. 
In  a  moment  it  reared  almost  perpendicularly,  and 
then  bounded  forward — not,  however,  before  Jacques' 
quick  eye  had  observed  the  danger,  and  his  ever-ready 
hand  arrested  its  course. 

"  Have  a  care.  Miss  Kate,"  lie  said,  in  a  warning  voice, 
while  he  gazed  in  the  face  of  the  excited  girl  with  a  look 
of  undisguised  admiration.  "It  don't  do  to  wallop  a 
skittish  beast  like  that." 

"  Never  fear,  Jacques,"  she  replied,  bending  forward  to 
pat  her  charger  s  arching  neck, — "  see,  he  is  becoming  quite 
gentle  again." 

"If  he  runs  away,  Kate,  we  won't  be  able  to  catch 
you  again,  for  he's  the  best  of  the  four,  I  think,"  said 
Harry,  with  an  uneasy  glance  at  the  animal's  flashing 
eye  and  expanded  nostrils. 

"Ay,  its  as  well  to  keep  the  whip  off  him,"  said 
Jacques.  "  I  know'd  a  young  chap  once  in  St  Louis,  who 
lost  his  sweetheart  by  usin'  his  whip  too  freely." 

"Indeed,"  cried  Kate  with  a  merry  laugh,  as  they 
emerged  from  one  of  the  numerous  thickets  and  rode  out 
upon  the  open  plain  at  a  foot  pace,  "  how  was  that  Jacques  ? 
Pi'ay  tell  us  the  story." 

"  As  to  that,  there's  little  story  about  it,"  replied  the 


400 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


hunter.  "  You  see,  Tim  Roughead  took  a'rter  his  name, 
an'  was  always  doin'  some  mischief  or  other,  which  more 
than  once  nigh  cost  him  his  life  ;  for  the  young  trappers 
that  frequent  St  Louis  are  not  fellows  to  stand  too  much 
jokin',  I  can  tell  ye.  Well,  Tim  fdl  in  love  with  a  gal 
there,  who  had  jilted  about  a  dozen  lads  afore ;  and,  bein' 
an  oncommon  handsom',  strappin'  fellow,  she  encouraged 
him  a  good  deal.  But  Tim  had  a  suspicion  that  Louise 
was  rayther  sweet  on  a  young  storekeeper's  clerk  there ; 
so,  bein'  an  oflf-hand  sort  o'  critter,  he  went  right  up  to 
the  gal,  and  says  to  her,  says  he,  *  Come,  Louise,  its  o'  no 
use  humbuggin'  with  me  any  longer.  If  you  like  me,  you 
like  me ;  and  if  you  don't  like  me,  you  don't.  There's  only 
two  ways  about  it.  Now,  jist  say  the  word  at  once  an'  let's 
have  an  end  on't.  If  you  agree,  I'll  squat  with  you  in 
whativer  bit  o'  the  States  you  like  to  name ;  if  not,  I'll 
bid  you  good-bye  this  blessed  momin',  an'  make  tracks 
right  away  for  the  Rocky  Mountains  afore  sun-down. 
Aye  or  no,  lass  ;  which  is't  to  be  ?  * 

"Poor  Louise  was  taken  all  aback  by  this,  but  she  knew 
well  that  Tim  was  a  man  who  never  threatened  in  jest, 
an'  moreover,  she  wasn't  quite  sure  o'  the  young  clerk; 
so  she  agreed,  an'  Tim  went  off  to  settle  with  her  father 
about  the  weddin'.  Well,  the  day  came,  an'  Tim,  with 
a  lot  o'  his  comrades,  mounted  their  horses,  and  rode  off  to 
the  bride's  house,  which  was  a  mile  or  two  up  the  river  out 
of  the  town.  Just  as  they  were  startin',  Tim's  horse  gave  a 
plunge  that  well-nigh  pitched  him  over  its  head,  an'  Tim 
came  down  on  him  with  a  cut  o'  his  heavy  whip  that 
sounded  like  a  pistol-shot.  The  beast  was  so  mad  at  this 
that  it  gave  a  kind  o'  squeal  an'  another  plunge  that 
burst   the   girths.     Tim  brought  the  whip  down  on  its 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


I   i 


401 


flank  again,  which  macle  it  shoot  forward  like  an  arrow 
out  of  a  bow,  leavin'  poor  Tim  on  the  ground.  So  slick 
did  it  fly  away,  that  it  didn't  even  throw  him  on  his  back, 
but  let  him  fall  sittin'-wise,  saddle  and  all,  plump  on  the 
spot  where  he  sprang  from.  Tim  scratched  his  head  an' 
grinned  like  a  half-worried  rattlesnake,  as  his  comrades 
almost  rolled  off  their  saddles  with  laughin'.  But  it  was 
no  laughin'  job,  for  poor  Tim's  leg  was  doubled  under  him, 
an'  broken  across  at  the  thigh.  It  was  long  before  he  was 
able  to  go  about  again,  and  when  he  did  recover,  he  found 
that  Louise  and  the  young  clerk  were  spliced  an'  away  to 
Kentucky."  , 

"  So  you  see  what  are  the  probable  consequences,  Kate, 
if  you  use  your  whip  so  obstreperously  again,"  cried 
Charley,  pressing  his  horse  into  a  canter. 

Just  at  that  moment  a  rabbit  sprang  from  under  a  bush 
and  darted  away  before  them.  In  an  instant  Harry  Som- 
erville  gave  a  wild  shout,  and  set  off  in  pursuit.  Whether 
it  was  the  cry,  or  the  sudden  flight  of  Harry's  horse,  we 
cannot  tell,  but  the  next  instant,  Kate's  charger  performed 
an  indescribable  flourish  with  its  hind  legs,  laid  back  its  ears, 
took  the  bit  between  its  teeth,  and  ran  away.  Jacques 
was  on  its  heels  instantly,  and,  a  few  seconds  afterwards, 
Charley  and  Harry  joined  in  the  pursuit,  but  their 
utmost  efforts  failed  to  do  more  than  enable  them  to  keep 
their  ground.  Kate's  horse  was  making  for  a  dense 
thicket,  into  which  it  became  evident  they  must  cer- 
tainly plunge.  Harry  and  her  brother  trembled  when 
they  looked  at  it,  and  realised  her  danger ;  even  Jacques' 
face  shewed  some  symptoms  of  perturbation  for  a  moment, 
as  he  glanced  before  him  in  indecision.     The  expression 


402 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


** 


vanished,  however,  in  a  few  seconds,  and  his  cheerful, 
self-possessed  look  returned,  as  he  cried  out — 

"  Pull  the  left  rein  hard.  Miss  Kate ;  try  to  edge  up  the 
slope." 

Kate  heard  the  advice,  and,  exerting  all  her  strength, 
succeeded  in  tiirning  her  horse  a  little  to  the  left,  which 
caused  him  to  ascend  a  gentle  slope,  at  the  top  of  which 
part  of  the  thicket  lay.  She  was  closely  followed  by 
Hany  and  her  brother,  who  urged  their  steeds  madly 
forward  in  the  hope  of  catching  her  rein,  while  Jacques 
diverged  a  little  to  the  right.  By  this  manoeuvre,  the 
latter  hoped  to  gain  on  the  runaway,  as  the  ground  along 
which  he  rode  was  compai'atively  level,  with  a  short  but 
steep  ascent  at  the  end  of  it,  while  that  along  which  Kate 
flew  like  the  wind  was  a  regular  ascent,  that  would  prove 
very  trying  to  her  horse.  At  the  margin  of  the  thicket  gi'ew 
a  row  of  high  bushes,  towards  which  they  now  galloped 
with  frightful  speed.  As  Kate  came  up  to  this  natu- 
ral fence,  she  observed  the  trapper  approaching  on 
the  other  side  of  it.  Springing  from  his  jaded  steed, 
without  attempting  to  check  its  pace,  he  leaped  over 
the  undei'wood  like  a  stag,  just  as  the  young  girl  cleared 
the  bushes  at  a  bound.  Grasping  the  reins,  and  checking 
the  horse  violently  with  one  hand,  he  extended  the  other 
to  Kate,  who  leaped  unhesitatingly  into  his  arms.  At 
the  same  instant,  Charley  cleared  the  bushes,  and  pulled 
sharply  up ;  while  Harry's  horse,  unable,  owing  to  its 
speed,  to  take  the  leap,  came  crashing  through  them,  and 
dashed  his  rider  with  stunning  violence  to  the  ground. 

Fortunately  no  bones  were  broken,  and  a  draught  of 
clear  water,  brought  by  Jacques  from  a  neighbouring 
pond,  speedily  restored  Harry's  shaken  faculties. 


■_,?!^ 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


403 


"  Now,  Kate,"  said  Charley,  leading  forward  the  horse 
which  he  had  ridden,  "  I  have  changed  saddles,  as  you 
see  ;  this  lioi-se  will  suit  you  better,  and  I'll  take  the 
shine  out  of  your  charger  on  the  way  home." 

"  Thank  you,  Charley,"  said  Kate,  with  a  smile,  "  I've 
quite  recovered  from  my  fright,  if,  indeed,  it  is  worth 
calling  by  that  name  ;  but  I  fear  that  Harry  has " 

"  Oh !  I'm  all  right,"  cried  Harry,  advancing  as  he 
spoke  to  assist  Kate  in  mounting.  "  I  am  ashamed  to 
think  that  my  wild  cry  was  the  cause  of  all  this." 

In  another  minute  they  were  again  in  their  saddles, 
and,  turning  their  faces  homeward,  they  swept  over  the 
plain  at  a  steady  gallop,  fearing  lest  their  accident  should 
be  the  means  of  making  Mr  Kennedy  wait  dinner  for 
them.  On  arriving,  they  found  the  old  gentleman 
engaged  in  an  animated  discussion  with  the  cook  about 
laying  the  table-cloth,  which  duty  he  had  imposed  on 
himself,  in  Kate's  absence.  ^ 

"  Ah  !  Kate,  my  love, "  he  cried,  as  they  entered, 
"  come  here,  lass,  and  mount  guard.  I've  almost  broke 
my  heart  in  trying  to  convince  that  thick-headed  goose 
that  he  can't  set  the  table  properly.  Take  it  off  my  hands, 
like  a  good  girl.  Charley,  my  boy,  you'll  be  pleased  to 
hear  that  your  old  friend  Redfeather  is  here." 

"  Redfeather,  father ! "  exclaimed  Charley,  in  surprise. 

"  Yes  ;  he  and  the  parson,  from  the  other  end  of  Lake 
Wiuipeg,  arrived  an  hour  ago  in  a  tin  kettle,  and  are  now 
on  their  way  to  the  upper  fort." 

"  That  is,  indeed,  pleasant  news ;  but  I  suspect  that  it 
will  give  much  greater  pleasure  to  our  friend  Jacques, 
who,  I  believe,  would  be  glad  to  lay  down  his  life  for  him, 
simply  to  prove  his  affection." 


404 


BNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


I--*:. 


"  Well,  well,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  knocking  the 
anhes  ont  of  his  pipe,  and  refilling  it  ao  aa  to  be  ready  for 
an  after-dinner  smoke,  "  Kedfeather  haa  come,  and  the 
parson's  come,  too,  and  I  look  upon  it  as  quite  miraculous 
that  thoy  have  come,  considering  the  thing  they  came  in. 
What  they've  come  for  is  more  than  I  can  tell,  but  I  sup- 
pose it's  connected  with  Church  affairs.  Now,  then, 
Kate,  what's  come  o'  the  dinner,  Kate  1  Stir  up  that 
grampus  of  a  cook  !  I  half  expect  that  he  has  boiled  the 
cat  for  dinner,  in  his  wrath,  for  it  has  been  badgering 
him  and  me  the  whole  morning.  Hallo,  Harry,  what's 
wrong  1 " 

The  last  exclamation  was  in  consequence  of  an  ex- 
pression of  pain  whioh  crossed  Harry's  face  for  a  moment. 

"  Nothing,  nothing,"  replied  Harry,  "  I've  had  a  fall 
from  my  horse,  and  bruised  my  arm  a  little.  But  I'll 
see  to  it  after  dinner." 

"  That  you  shall  not,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  energetically, 
dragging  his  young  friend  into  his  bedroom.  "  Off  with 
your  coat,  lad.  Let's  see  it  at  once.  Ay,  ay,"  he  con- 
tinued, examining  Harry's  left  arm,  which  was  very  much 
discoloured,  and  swelled  from  the  elbow  to  the  shoulder, 
"  that's  a  severe  thump,  my  boy.  But  it's  nothing  to 
speak  of;  only  you'll  have  to  submit  to  a  sling  for  a  day  or 
two." 

"  That's  annoying,  certainly,  but  I'm  thankful  it's  no 
worse,"  remarked  Harry,  as  Mr  Kennedy  dressed  the 
arm  after  his  own  fashion,  and  then  returned  with  him 
to  the  dining-room. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


il 


405 


CHAPTER  XXY, 

Lovo.   Old  Mr  Kennedy  puts  his  foot  In  It. 

One  morning,  about  two  weeks  after  Chajie;/'s  an-irri  vX 
Red  River,  Harry  Somerville  found  hxriself  alcio  in  MV 
Kennedy's  parlour.  The  old  gentler.:. in  himayli  Lad  just 
galloped  away  in  the  direction  of  the  iowa*  fort,  to  vJsi.t 
Charley,  who  was  now  formally  installed  thero.  Kate 
was  busy  in  the  kitchen  giving  direction  3  abouu  diniier, 
and  Jacques  was  away  with  Redfeather  visiting  Lis 
numerous  friends  in  the  settlement ;  so  that,  for  the  first 
time  since  his  arrival,  Harry  found  himself  ufc  th/i  I  j;jup 
of  ten  in  the  morning  utterly  lone^  end  with  nothing  very 
definite  to  do.  Of  course,  the  two  weeks  that  had  elapsed 
were  not  without  their  signs  and  symptoms,  ♦^^htir  nn*nor 
accidents  and  incidents,  in  regard  to  the  subject  that  filled 
his  thoughts.  Harry  had  fifty  times  been  trsjei  aHor- 
nately  from  the  height  of  hope  to  the  'lepth  of  despair, 
from  the  extreme  of  felicity  to  tbw  utteriftost  verge  of 
sorrow,  and  he  began  seriousl7  co  reflect,  when  he  re- 
membered his  desjpcrate  yesolution  on  the  first  night  of 
his  arrival,  that  if  he  did  not  "  do,"  he  certainly  would 
"  die. "  This  was  quite  a  mistake,  however,  on  Harry's 
part.  Nobody  ever  did  die  of  unrequited  love.  Doubt- 
less many  people  have  hanged,  drowned,  arf'  shot  them- 
selves because  of  it ;  but,  generally  speaking,  if  the  patient 
can  be  kept  from  maltreating  himself  long  enough,  time 


I 


i? 


r  \ 


406 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


will  prove  to  be  an  infallible  remedy.  O  youthful 
reader !  lay  this  to  heart ;  but,  pshaw !  why  do  I  waste 
ink  on  so  hopeless  a  task  ?  Every  one,  we  suppose, 
resolves  once  in  a  way  to  die  of  love  \  so — die  away,  my 
young  friends — only,  make  sure  that  you  don't  kill  your- 
selves, and  I've  no  fear  of  the  result. 

But  to  return.  Kate,  likewise,  was  similarly  affected. 
She  behaved  like  a  perfect  maniac — mentally,  that  is — and 
plunged  herself,  metaphorically,  into  such  a  succession  of 
hot  and  cold  baths,  that  it  was  quite  a  marvel  how  her 
spiritual  constitution  could  stand  it. 

But  we  were  wi'ong  in  saying  that  Harry  was  alone  in 
the  parlour.  The  gray  cat  was  there.  On  a  chair  before 
the  fire  it  sat,  looking  dishevelled  and  somewhat  hlase^  in 
consequence  of  the  ill-treatment  and  worry  to  which  it 
was  continually  subjected.  After  looking  out  of  the 
window  for  a  short  time,  Harry  rose,  and,  sitting  down 
on  a  chair  beside  the  cat,  patted  its  head, — a  mark  of 
attention  it  was  evidently  not  averse  to,  but  which  it 
received,  nevertheless,  with  marked  suspicion,  and  some 
indications  of  being  in  a  condition  of  armed  neutrality. 
Jnst  then  the  door  opened  and  Kate  entered. 

"  Excuse  me,  Harry,  for  leaving  you  alone,"  she  said, 
"  but  I  had  to  attend  to  several  household  matters.  Do 
you  feel  inclinec'  for  a  walk  ? " 

"  I  do,  indeed,"  replied  Harry  ;  "  it  is  a  charming  day, 
and  I  am  exceedingly  anxious  to  see  the  bower  that  you 
have  spoken  to  me  about  once  or  twice,  and  which 
Charley  told  me  of  long  before  I  came  here." 

"  Oh !  I  shall  take  you  to  it,  with  pleasure,"  replied 
Kate ;  *'  my  dear  father  often  goes  there  with  me  to 
smoke.     If  you  will  wait  for  two  minutes,  I'll  put  on  my 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


407 


bonnet,"  and  she  hastened  to  prepare  herself  for  the  walk, 
leaving  Harry  to  caress  the  cat,  which  he  did  so  ener- 
getically, when  he  thought  of  its  young  mistress,  that  it 
instantly  declared  war  and  sprang  from  the  chair  with  a 
remonstrative  yell. 

On  their  way  down  to  the  bower,  which  was  situated 
in  a  picturesque,  retired  spot  on  the  river's  bank,  about 
a  mile  below  the  house,  Harry  and  Kate  tried  to  converse 
on  ordinary  topics,  but  without  success,  and  were  at  last 
almost  reduced  to  silence.  One  subject  alone  filled  their 
minds — all  others  were  flat.  Being  sunk,  as  it  were,  in 
an  ocean  of  love,  they  no  sooner  opened  their  lips  to  speak 
than  the  waters  rushed  in,  as  a  natural  cons  quence,  and 
nearly  choked  them.  Had  they  but  opened  their  mouths 
wide  and  boldly,  they  would  have  been  pleasantly  drowned 
together;  but  as  it  was,  they  lacked  the  requisite  courage, 
and  were  fain  to  content  themselves  with  an  occasional 
frantic  struggle  to  the  surface,  where  they  gasped  a  few 
words  of  uninteresting  air,  and  sank  again  instantly. 

On  arriving  at  the  bower,  however,  and  sitting  down, 
Harry  plucked  up  heart,  and,  heaving  a  deep  sigh,  said — 

"Kate,  there  is  a  subject  about  which  I  have  long 
desired  to  speak  to  you  -     -" 

Long  as  he  had  been  desiring  it,  however,  Kate  thought 
it  must  have  been  nothing  compared  with  the  time  that 
elapsed  ere  he  said  anything  else ;  so  she  bent  over  a 
flower,  which  she  held  in  her  hand,  and  said,  in  a  low 
voice — "Indeed,  Harry;  what  is  it  1" 

Harry  was  desperate  now.  His  usually  flexible  tongue 
was  stiff  as  stone,  and  dry  as  a  bit  of  leather.  He  could 
vo  more  give  utterance  to  an  intelligible  idea,  than  he 
could  change  himself  into  Mr  Kennedy's  gray  cat, — a 


■^ 


408 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


change  that  he  would  not  have  been  unwilling  to  make 
at  that  moment.  At  last  he  seized  his  companion's  hand, 
and  exclaimed,  with  a  burst  of  emotion  that  quite  startled 
her — 

"  Kate !  Kate !  0  dearest  Kate,  I  love  you  !     I  adore 


you 


!    I 


At  this  point  poor  Harry's  powers  of  speech  again 
failed  j  so,  being  utterly  unable  to  express  another  idea, 
he  suddenly  threw  his  arms  round  her,  and  pressed  her 
fervently  to  his  bosom. 

Kate  was  taken  quite  aback  by  this  summary  method 
of  coming  to  the  point.  Kepulsing  him  energetically,  she 
exclaimed,  while  she  blushed  crimson — 

"  Oh,    Hany — Mr  Somerville  ! " and  burst  into 

tears. 

Poor  Harry  stood  before  her  for  a  moment,  his  head 
hanging  down,  and  a  deep  blush  of  shame  on  his  face. 

"  Oh,  Kate,"  said  he,  in  a  deep,  tremulous  voice,  "  for- 
give me  !  Do — do  forgive  me  !  I  knew  not  what  I 
said.  I  scarce  knew  what  I  did "  (here  he  seized  her 
hand).  "  I  know  but  one  thing,  Kate,  and  tell  it  you  I 
will,  if  it  should  cost  me  my  life.  I  io^'e  you,  Kate,  to 
distraction,  and  I  wish  you  to  be  my  wife.  I  have  beau 
rude— very  rude.     Can  you  forgive  me,  Kate  1 " 

Now,  this  latter  part  of  Harry's  speech  was  particu- 
larly comical,  the  comicality  of  it  lying  in  this — ^that, 
while  he  spoke,  he  drew  Kate  gradually  towards  him, 
and,  at  the  very  time  when  he  gave  utterance  to  the 
penitential  remorse  for  his  rudeness,  Kate  was  enfolded 
in  a  much  more  vigorous  embrace  than  at  the  first;  and, 
what  is  more  remarkable  still,  she  laid  her  little  head 
quietly  on  his  shoulder,  as  if  she  had  quite  changed  her 


.lt<-4'.  ' 


FltOM  THE  FAR  NC.tTH. 


409 


mind  in  regard  to  what  was  and  wl.itt  was  not  rude,  and 
rather  enjoyed  it  than  otherwise. 

"While  the  lovers  stood  in  this  interesting  position,  it 
became  apparent  to  Harry's  olfactory  nerves  that  the 
atmosphere  was  impregnated  with  tobacco  smoke.  Look- 
ing hastily  up,  he  beheld  an  apparition  that  tended  some- 
what to  increase  the  confusion  of  his  faculties. 

In  the  opening  of  the  bower  stood  Mr  Kennedy, 
senior,  in  a  state  of  inexpressible  amazement.  We  say 
inexpressible  advisedly,  because  the  extreme  pitch  of  feel- 
ing which  Mr  Kennedy  experienced  at  what  he  beheld 
before  him,  cannot  possibly  be  expressed  by  human 
visage.  As  far  as  the  countenance  of  man  could  do  it, 
however,  we  believe  the  old  gentleman's  came  pretty 
near  the  mark  on  this  occasion.  His  hands  were  in  his 
coat-pockets,  his  body  bent  a  little  forward,  his  head  and 
neck  outstretched  a  little  beyond  it,  his  eyies  almost 
starting  from  the  sockets,  and,  certainly,  the  most  pro- 
minent feature  in  his  face ;  his  teeth  firmly  clenched  on 
his  beloved  pipe,  and  his  lips  expelling  a  multitude  of 
little  clouds  so  vigorously,  that  one  might  liave  taken  him 
for  a  sort  of  self-acting  intelligent  steam-gun,  that  had 
resolved  utterly  to  annihilate  Kate  and  Harry  at  short 
range  in  the  course  of  two  minutes. 

"When  Kate  saw  her  father,  she  uttered  a  slight  scream, 
covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  rushed  from  the  bower, 
and  disappeared  in  the  wood. 

"  So,  young  gentleman,"  began  Mr  Kennedy,  in  a  slow, 
deliberate  tone  of  voice,  while  he  removed  the  pipe  from 
his  mouth,  clenched  his  fist,  and  confronted  Harry, 
"  you've  been  invited  to  my  house  as  a  guest,  sir,  and  you 
seize  the  opportunity  basely  to  insult  my  daughter ! " 

27 


V  .'. 


410 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNllEAMS 


'r« 


"  Stay,  stay,  my  dear  sir,"  interrupted  Harry,  laying 
liis  hand  on  the  old  man's  shonlder,  and  gazing  earnestly 
into  his  face — "  Oh  1  do  not,  even  for  a  moment,  imagine 
tliat  I  could  be  so  base  as  to  trillo  with  the  affections  of 
your  daughter.  I  may  have  been  presumptuous,  hasty, 
foolish,  mad,  if  you  will,  but  not  bsise.  God  forbid  that 
I  should  treat  her  witli  disrespect,  even  in  thought !  I 
love  her,  Mr  Kennedy,  as  I  never  loved  before  ;  I  have 
aakcd  her  to  be  my  wife,  and — she " 

"Whew!"  whistled  old  Mr  Kennedy,  repl^^'ng  his 
pipe  between  his  teeth,  gazing  abstractedly  at  the  ground, 
and  emitting  clouds  innumerable.  After  standing  thus  a 
few  seconds,  he  turned  his  back  slowly  upon  Harry,  and 
smiled  outrageously  once  or  twice,  winking  at  the  same 
time,  after  his  own  fashion,  at  the  river.  Turning 
abruptly  round,  he  regarded  Harry  with  a  look  of 
affected  dignity,  and  said — "  Pray,  sir,  what  did  my 
daughter  say  to  your  veiy  peculiar  proposal  V     .      '    ' 

"  She  said  ye — ah !  that  is — she  didn't  exactly  saf/  any- 
thing, but  she — indeed  I " 

"  Humph  ! "  ejaculated  the  old  gentleman,  deepening 
his  frovrn  as  he  regarded  his  young  friend  through  the 
smoke.  "  In  short,  she  said  nothing,  I  suppose,  but  led 
you  to  infer,  perhaps,  that  she  would  have  said  Yes,  if  I 
hadn't  interrupted  you."  -       -  \    ^  .  •  - 

Harry  blushed,  and  said  nothing.  ' 

"  Now,  sir,"  continued  Mr  Kennedy,  "  don't  you  think 
that  it  would  have  been  a  polite  piece  of  attention  on 
your  part  to  have  asked  niT/  permission  before  you 
addressed  my  daughter  on  such  a  subject  ?  eh?" 

"  Indeed,"  said  Harry,  "  I  acknowledge  that  I  havo 
been  hasty,  but  I  must  disclaim  the  charge  of  disrespect 


FROM  THE  FAll  NORTH. 


411 


to  you,  sir ;  I  had  no  intention  wliatover  of  broacliing 
the  subject  to-day,  but  my  feelings  unhappily  earned  me 
away,  and — and — in  fact " 


"  Well,  well,  sir,"  interrupted  Mr  Kennedy,  with  a 
look  of  offended  dignity,  "  your  feelings  ought  to  be  kept 
more  under  control ;  but  come,  sir,  to  my  house.  I 
must  talk  further  with  you  on  this  subject.  I  must  read 
you  a  lesson,  sir — a  lesson,  humph  1  that  you  won't  forget 
in  a  hurry." 

"  But,  my  dear  sir "  began  Harry. 

"  No  more,  sir — no  more  at  present,"  cried  the  old 
gentleman,  smoking  violently  as  he  pointed  to  the  foot- 
path that  led  to  the  house;  "lead  the  way,  sir,  I'll 
follow." 

The  foot-path,  although  wide  enough  to  allow  Kate 
and  Harry  to  walk  beside  each  other,  did  not  permit  of 
two  gentlemen  doing  so,  conveniently, — a  circumstance 
which  proved  a  great  relief  to  Mr  Kennedy,  inasmuch  as 
it  enabled  him,  while  walking  behind  his  companion,  to 
wink  convulsively,  smoke  furiously,  and  punch  his  own 
ribs  severely,  by  way  of  opening  a  few  safety-valves  to 
his  glee,  without  which  there  is  no  saying  what  might 
have  happened.  He  was  nearly  caught  in  these  eccentri- 
cities more  than  once,  however,  as  Harry  turned  half 
round,  with  the  intention  of  again  attempting  to  excul- 
pate liimself, — attempts  which  were  as  often  met  by  a 
sudden  start,  a  fierce  frown,  a  burst  of  smoke,  and  a  com- 
mand to  "  go  on."  On  approaching  the  house,  the  track 
became  a  broad  road — affording  Mr  Kennedy  no  excuse 
for  walking  in  the  rear,  so  that  he  war.  under  the  neces- 
sity of  laying  violent  restraint  on  his  feelings, — a  restraint 
which,    it  was  evident,  could    not   last   long.     At  that 


^  ,- 


'«  -s. 


412 


SNOWPLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


moment,  to  his  great  relief,  his  eye  suddenly  fell  on  tKe 
gray  cat,  which  happened  to  be  reposing  innocently  on 
the  door-step. 

"  That's  it  I  There's  the  whole  cause  of  it  at  last ! "  cried 
Mr  Kennedy,  in  a  perfect  paroxysm  of  excitement,  fling- 
ing his  pipe  violently  at  the  unoffending  victim  as  he 
rushed  towards  it.  The  pipe  missed  the  cat,  but  went  with 
a  sharp  crash  through  the  parlour  window,  at  which 
Charley  was  seated,  while  his  father  darted  through  the 
doorway,  along  the  passage,  and  into  the  kitchen.  Here 
the  cat,  having  first  capsized  a  pyramid  of  pans  and  ket- 
tles in  its  conscemation,  took  refuge  in  an  absolutely 
unassailable  position.  Seeing  this,  Mr  Kennedy  violently 
discharged  a  pailful  of  water  at  the  spot,  strode  rapidly  to 
his  own  apartment,  and  locked  himself  in. 

"Dear  me,  Harry,  what's  wrong?  My  father  seems 
unusually  excited,"  said  Charley,  in  some  astonishment, 
as  Harry  entered  the  room  and  flung  himself  on  a  chair 
wit  h  a  look  of  chagrin. 

"  It's  difiicult  to  say,  Charley ;  the  fact  is,  I've  asked 
\  our  sister  Kate  to  be  my  wife,  and  your  father  seems  to 
have  gone  mad  with  indignation." 

"Asked  Kate  to  be  your  wife  !"  cried  Charley,  starting 
up,  and  regarding  his  friend  with  a  look  of  amazement. 

"  Yes  I  have,"  replied  Harry,  with  an  air  of  ofiended 
dignity  ;  "  I  know  very  well  that  I  am  unworthy  of  her, 
but  I  see  no  reason  why  you  and  your  father  should  take 
such  pains  to  make  me  feel  it." 

"  Unworthy  of  her,  my  dear  fellow  1"  exclaimed  Char- 
ley, grasping  his  hand  and  wringing  it  violently;  "no 
doubt  you  are,  and  so  is  everybody,  but  you  shall  have  her 

'  ■       ■    '  '  '       ^C  -     -     • 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


413 


for  all  that,  my  boy.      But  tell  me,  Harry,  have  you 
spoken  to  Kate  herself?" 
"Yes  I  have." 

"  And  does  she  agree  1 "  i 

"  Well,  I  think  I  may  say  she  does." 
"  Have  you  told  my  father  that  she  does  1"      '.     * 
"  Why,  as  to  tliat,"  said  Harry,  with  a  perplexed  smile, 
"he  didn't  need  to  be  told,  he  made  Ajmse//' pretty  well 
aware  of  the  facts  of  the  case."         ;'  -    , 

•^  "  Ah  !  I'll  soon  settle  him,"  cried  Charley  ;  "  keep  your 
mind  easy,  old  fellow,  I'll  very  soon  bring  him  round." 
With  this  assurance,  Charley  gave  his  friend's  hand 
another  shake  that  nearly  wrenched  the  arm  from  his 
shoulder,  and  hastened  out  of  the  room  in  search  of  his 
refractoi7  father.  -^ 


asked       ■ 

t-          ;     ■     >.    , 

>emB  to       H 

,   f.w, ;'""'  -t 

starting       H 

< 

nent.          H 

' .-'      .. 

>ffended       ■ 

of  her,       I 

~  V.- 

dd  take      H 

"•■'     ■T-' 

d  Char-      1 

y;  "^^    1 

'    *       .       i' 

Lave  her      H 

-  r^H.--- 

*f,v 


k 


5?"-  * 


,    v»«»'        ■  ;■<      r 


4U 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


vM.       ,   •^.: 


»'.• 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


The  course  of  true  lore,  cnrioasly  enough,  runs  smooth  for  once ;  and  the  curtain 

falls. 


.J 


Time  rolled  on,  and  with  it  the  sunbeams  of  summer 
went — the  snowflakes  of  winter  came.  Needles  of  ice 
began  to  shoot  across  the  surface  of  Red  River,  and  gradu- 
ally narrowed  its  bed.  Crystaline  trees  formed  upon 
the  window  panes.  Icicles  depended  from  the  eves  ot 
the  houses.  Snow  fell  in  abundance  on  the  plains; 
liquid  nature  began  rapidly  to  solidify,  and,  not  many 
weeks  after  the  first  frost  made  its  appearance,  every- 
thing was  (as  the  settlers  expressed  it)  "  hard  and  fast." 

Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  was  in  his  parlour,  with  his  back 
to  a  blazing  wood  fire  that  seemed  large  enough  to  roast 
an  ox  whole.  He  was  standing,  moreover,  in  a  semi- 
picturesque  attitude,  with  his  right  hand  in  his  breeches 
pocket  and  his  left  arm  round  Kate's  waist.  Kate  was 
dressed  in  a  gown  that  rivalled  the  snow  itself  in  white- 
ness. One  little  gold  clasp  shone  in  her  bosom ;  it  was 
the  only  ornament  she  wore.  Mr  Kennedy,  too,  had 
somewhat  altered  his  style  of  costume.  He  wore  a  sky- 
blue  swallow-tailed  coat,  whose  maker  had  flourished  in 
London  half  a  century  before.  It  had  a  velvet  collar 
about  five  inches  deep ;  fitted  uncommonly  tight  to  the 
figure,  and  had  a  pair  of  bright  brass  buttons,  veiy  close 
together,  situated  half  a  foot  above  the  wearer's  natimil 


rilOM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


415 


waist.  Besides  this,  he  liail  on  a  canary-coloured  vest, 
aud  a  pair  of  white  duck  trowsers,  in  the  fob  of  which 
evidently  reposed  an  irnmenso  gold  watch  of  the  olden  time, 
with  a  bunch  of  seals  that  would  have  served  very  well  as 
jin  anchor  for  a  small  boat.  Although  the  dress  was,  on 
the  whole,  slightly  comical,  its  owner — with  his  full,  fit, 
broad  figure — looked  remarkably  well  in  it  nevertheless. 

It  wsis  Kate's  marriage-day,  or,  i-ather,  maniage  even- 
ing, for  the  sun  had  set  two  hours  ago,  and  tho  moon 
Wiis  now  sailing  in  the  frosty  sky,  its  pale  rays  causing 
the  whole  country  to  shine  with  a  clear,  cold,  silvery 
whiteness. 

The  old  gentleman  had  been  for  some  time  gazing  in 
silent  admiration  on  the  fair  brow  and  clustering  ringlets 
of  his  daughter,  when  it  suddenly  occurred  to  him  that 
the  company  would  arrive  in  half  an  hour,  and  there  were 
several  things  still  to  be  attended  to. 

"  Hallo,  Kate ! "  he  exclaimed,  with  a  start,  "  we're 
forgetting  ourselves.  The  candles  are  yet  to  light,  and 
lots  of  other  things  to  do ; "  saying  this,  he  began  to 
bustle  about  the  room  in  a  state  of  considerable  agita- 
tion. 

"  Oh !  don't  wony  yourself,  dear  father,"  cried  Kate, 
running  after  him  and  catching  him  by  the  hand.  "  Miss 
Cookumwell,  and  good  Mrs  Taddipopple,  are  arranging 
everything  about  tea  and  supper  in  the  kitchen  j  and 
Tom  Whyte  has  been  kindly  sent  to  us  by  Mr  Grant, 
with  orders  to  make  himself  generally  useful,  so  he  can 
light  the  candles  iu  a  few  minutes,  and  you've  nothing 
to  do  but  to  kiss  me  and  receive  the  company."  Kate 
pulled  her  father  gently  towards  the  fire  again,  and  re- 
placed his  arm  round  her  waist. 


410 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


"Receive  company!  Ah!  Kate,  my  love,  that's  just 
what  I  know  nothing  about.  If  they'd  let  me  receive 
tliem  in  my  own  way,  I'd  do  it  well  enough ;  but  that 
abominable  Mrs  Taddi  —  what's  her  name,  has  quite 
addled  my  brains  and  driven  me  distracted  with  trying 
to  get  mo  to  undei-stand  what  she  calls  etiguctte.^' 

Kate  laughed,  and  said  she  didn't  care  hou^  he  i-eceived 
them,  as  she  was  quite  sure  that,  whichever  way  he  did 
it,  he  would  do  it  pleasantly  and  well. 

At  that  moment  the  door  opened,  and  Tom  Whyte 
entered.  He  was  thinner,  if  possible,  than  he  used  to 
be,  and  considerably  stiflbr,  and  more  upright. 

"  Please,  sir,"  said  he,  with  a  motion  that  made  you 
expect  to  hear  his  back  creak,  (it  was  intended  for  u 
bow) — "  please,  sir,  can  I  do  hany think  for  yer  ? " 

*'  Yes,  Tom,  you  can,"  replied  Mr  Kennedy ;  "  light 
these  candles,  my  man,  and  then  go  to  the  stable  and  see 
that  everything  there  is  arranged  for  j;utting  up  the 
horses.  It  will  be  pretty  full  to-night,  Tom,  and  will 
require  some  management ;  then,  let  me  see — ah !  yes, 
bring  me  my  pipe,  Tom,  my  big  meerschaum,  I'll  sport 
that  to-night  in  honour  of  you,  Kate." 

"  Please,  sir,"  began  Tom,  with  a  slightly  disconcerted 
air,  "  I'm  afeer'd  sir,  that — um "  ^ 

"  Well,  Tom,  what  would  you  say  ]     Go  on." 

"  The  pipe,  sir,"  said  Tom,  growing  still  more  discon- 
certed ;  "  says  I  to  cook,  says  I,  *  Cook,  wots  been  an' 
done  it,  d'ye  tliink?'  'Dun  know,  Tom,*  says  he,  'but 
it's  smashed,  that's  sartin.     I  think  the  gray  cat * " 

"  What ! "  cried  the  old  trader,  in  a  voice  of  thunder, 
while  a  frown  of  the  most  portentous  ferocity  darkened 
his  brow  for  an  instant.     It  was  only  for  an  instant,  how- 


PROM  THE  FAU  NORTH. 


417 


ever.  Clearing  liis  brow  quickly,  he  said  with  a  smile, 
"  But  it's  your  wedding-day,  Kate,  my  darling.  It 
won't  do  to  blow  up  anybody  to-day — not  even  the  cat. 
There,  be  off,  Tom,  and  see  to  things.  Look  sharp  !  I 
hear  sleigh-bells  already."  • 

As  ho  spoke,  Tom  vanished  perpendicularly;  Kate 
hastened  to  her  room,  and  the  old  g^htleman  himself 
went  to  the  front  door  to  receive  his  guests. 
;  The  night  was  of  that  intensely  calm  And  still  charac- 
ter that  invariably  accompanies  intense  frost,  so  that 
the  merry  jingle  of  the  sleigh-bells  that  struck  on  Mr 
Kennedy's  listening  ear,  continued  to  sound,  and  grow 
louder  as  they  drew  near,  for  a  considerable  time  ere  the 
visitors  ari'ived.  Presently,  the  dull,  soft  tramp  of  horaes' 
hoofs  was  heard  in  the  snow,  and  a  well-known  voice 
shouted  out  lustily,  "  Now,  then,  Mactavish,  keep  to  the 
left.  Doesn't  the  road  take  a  turn  there?  Mind  the 
gap  in  the  fence.  That's  old  Kennedy's  only  fault. 
He'd  rather  risk  breaking  his  friends'  necks,  than  mend 
his  fences  ! " 

"  All  right,  here  we  are,"  cried  Mactavish,  as,  the 
next  instant,  two  sleighs  emerged  out  of  the  avenue  into 
the  moonlit  space  in  front  of  the  house,  and  da.shed  up 
to  the  door  amid  an  immense  noise  and  clatter  of  bells, 
harness,  hoofs,  snorting,  and  salutations. 

"  Ah !  Grant,  my  dear  fellow,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy, 
(Springing  to  the  sleigh  and  seizing  his  friend  by  the  hand 
as  he  dragged  him  out.  "  This  is  kind  of  you  to  come 
early — and  Mrs  Grant,  too — ^take  care,  my  dear  madam, 
step  clear  of  the  haps — now,  then — cleverly  done"  (as 
]Mrs  Grant  tumbled  into  his  arms  in  a  confused  heap) — 
"come  along  now — there's  a  capital  fire  in  here — don't 


4Id 


BNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


mind  tlio  horses,  Mactavisli— follow  us,  my  lacl — Tom 
Wliyto  will^ttend  to  them." 

Uttering  such  disjointed  remarks,  Mr  Kennedy  led 
Mrs  Grant  into  the  house,  and  made  her  over  to  Mrs 
Taddij)opple,  who  hurried  her  away  to  an  inner  apart- 
ment, while  Mr  Kennedy  conducted  her  spouse,  along  with 
Mactavisli  and  our  friend  the  head  clerk  at  Fort  Garry, 
into  the  parlour.       , 

"Hany,  my  dear  fellow,  I  wish  you  joy,"  cried  Mr 
Grant,  as  the  former  grasped  his  hand.  "  Lucky  dog 
you  are.    Where's  Kate  1  eh  !    Not  visible  yet,  I  suppose." 

"  No,  not  till  the  parson  comes,"  interrupted  Mr 
Kennedy,  convxUsing  his  left  cheek.  "  Hallo,  Charley, 
where  are  you  1  Ah  !  bring  the  cigars,  Charley.  Sit 
down,  gentlemen  ;  make  yourselves  at  home.  I  say,  Mrs 
Taddi — Taddi — oh  !  botheration — popple  ! — that's  it — 
your  name,  madam,  is  a  puzzler — but — we'll  need  more 
chairs  I  think.     Fetch  one  or  two,  like  a  dear  ! " 

As  he  spoke,  the  jingle  of  ))ells  was  heard  outside,  and 
Mr  Kennedy  rushed  to  the  door  again. 

"  Good  evening,  Mr  Addison,"  said  he,  taking  that 
gentleman  warmly  by  the  hand  as  he  resigned  the  reins 
to  Tom  Whyte.  "  I  am  delighted  to  see  you,  sir — look 
after  the  minister's  mare,  Tom — glad  to  see  you,  my 
dear  sir — some  of  my  friends  have  come  already — this 
way,  Mr  Addison." 

The  worthy  clergyman  responded  to  Mr  Kennedy's 
greeting  in  his  own  hearty  manner,  and  followed  him 
into  the  parlour,  where  the  guests  now  began  to  assemble 
rapidly. 

"  Father,"  cried  Charley,  catching  his  sire  by  the  arm, 
*'  I've  been  looking  for  you  everywhere,  but  you  dance 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


419 


ubout  like  a  will-o'-tlio-wisp.  Do  you  know  IVo  invited 
my  friends  Jacques  and  Kedfeathur  to  come  to-<iiight,  and 
also  Louis  Peltier,  the  guide,  with  whom  I  made  my  fiiut 
trip.     You  recollect  him,  father  1 " 

•  "  Ay,  that  do  I,  lad,  and  happy  shall  I  be  to  see  three 
Hiich  worthy  men  under  my  roof,  as  guests  on  tliis  night." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  know  that,  father,  but  I  don't  see  them 
liere.     Have  they  came  yet  1 " 

'  "  Can't  say,  boy.  By  the  way,  Pastor  Conway  is  also 
coming,  so  we'll  have  a  meeting  between  an  Episcopalian 
and  a  Wesleyan.  I  sincerely  trust  that  they  won't  fight ! " 
As  he  said  this,  the  old  gentleman  grinned  and  throw  his 
cheek  into  convulsions  —  an  expression  which  was 
suddenly  changed  into  one  of  confusion,  when  he  ob- 
served that  Mr  Addison  was  standing  close  beside  him, 
and  had  heard  the  remark. 

"  Don't  blush,  my  dear  sir,"  said  Mr  Addison,  with  a 
quiet  smile,  as  he  patted  his  friend  on  the  shoulder. 
"  You  have  too  much  reason,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  for 
expecting  that  clergymen  of  different  denominations 
should  look  coldly  on  each  other.  There  is  far  too  much 
of  this  indifference  and  distrust  among  those  who  labour 
in  different  parts  of  the  Lord's  vineyard.  But  I  trast 
you  will  find  that  my  sympathies  extend  a  little  beyond 
the  circle  of  my  own  particular  body.  Indeed,  Mr 
Conway  is  a  particular  friend  of  mine ;  so  1  assure  you 
we  won't  fight." 

"  Right,  right,"  cried  Mr  Kennedy,  giving  the  clergy- 
man an  energetic  grasp  of  the  hand  ;  "I  like  to  hear  you 
speak  that  way.  I  must  confess  that  I  have  been  a  good 
deal  surprised  to  observe,  by  what  one  reads  in  the  old- 
country  newsj)apers,  as  well  as  by  what  one  sees  even 


« 

i 


420 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


lipireaway  in  the  backwood  settlements,  how  little  interest 
clergymen  shew  in  the  doings  of  those  who  don't  happen 
to  belong  to  their  own  particular  sect,  just  as  if  a  soul 
saved  through  the  means  of  an  Episcopalian  was  not  of 
as  much  value  as  one  saved  by  a  Wesleyau,  or  a  Presby- 
terian, or  a  Dissenter ;  why,  sir,  it  seems  to  me  just  as 
mean-spirited  and  selfish,  as  if  one  of  our  chief  factors 
was  so  entirely  taken  up  with  the  doings  and  success  of 
his  own  i)articular  district,  that  he  didn't  care  n  gunfliut 
for  any  other  district  in  the  Company's  service." 

There  was  at  least  one  man  listening  to  these  remarks, 
whose  naturally  logical  and  liberal  mind  fully  agreed  with 
them.  This  was  Jacques  Caradoc,  who  had  <?ntered  the 
room  a  few  minutes  before,  in  company  with  his  friend 
Redfeather  and  Louis  Peltier. 

"  llight,  sir  !  That's  fact,  straight  up  and  down,"  said 
he,  in  an  approving  tone. 

"  Ha!  Jacques,  my  good  fellow,  is  that  you?  Redfeather, 
my  friend,  how  are  you?"  said  Mr  Kennedy,  turning 
round  and  grasping  a  hand  of  each.  "Sit  down  there, 
Louis,  beside  Mrs  Taddi — eh? — ah ! — popple.  Mr  Addison, 
this  is  Jacques  Caradoc,  the  best  and  stoutest  hunter 
between  Hudson's  Bay  and  Oregon." 

Jacques  smiled  and  bowed  modestly,  as  Mr  Addison 
shook  his  hand.  The  worthy  hunter  did  indeed,  at  that 
moment,  look  as  if  he  fully  merited  Mr  Kennedy's 
eulogium.  Instead  of  endeavouring  to  ape  the  gentleman, 
as  many  men  in  his  rank  of  life  would  have  been  likely 
to  do  on  an  occasion  like  this,  Jacques  had  nob  altered  his 
costume  a  hairsbreadth  from  what  it  usually  was,  excepting 
that  some  parts  of  it  were  quite  new,  and  all  of  it  fault- 
lessly clean.     He  wore  the  usual  capote,  but  it  was  his 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


421 


clison 
that 
nedy's 
email, 

likely 
•edhis 
epting 

fault- 
ras  his 


best  one,  and  had  been  washed  for  the  occasion.  The 
scarlet  belt  and  blue  leggins  were  also  as  bright  in  colour 
as  if  they  had  been  put  on  for  the  first  time,  and  the 
moccasins,  which  fitted  closely  to  his  well-formed  feet, 
were  of  the  cleanest  and  briglitest  yellow  leather,  orna- 
mented, as  rsual,  in  front.  The  collar  of  his  blue  striped 
shirt  was  folded  back  a  little  more  carefully  than  usual, 
exposing  his  sunburnt  and  muscular  throat  j  in  fact,  he 
wanted  nothing,  save  the  hunting  knife,  the  rifle,  and  the 
powder-horn,  to  constitute  him  a  perfect  specimen  of  a 
thorough  backwoodsman. 

Redfeather  and  Louis  were  similarly  costumed,  and  a 
noble  trio  they  looked,  as  they  sat  modestly  in  a  corner, 
talking  to  each  other  in  whispers,  and  endeavouring,  as 
much  as  possible,  to  curtail  their  colossal  proportions. 

"  Now,  Harry,"  said  Mr  Kennedy,  in  a  hoarse  whisper, 
at  the  same  time  winking  vehemently,  "we're  about  ready, 
lad.     Where's  Kate  ?  eh  ?  shall  we  send  for  her  1 " 

Harry  blushed,  and  stammered  out  something  that  was 
wholly  unintelligible,  but  which,  nevertheless,  seemed 
to  afibrd  infinite  delight  to  the  old  gentleman,  who 
chuckled  and  winked  tremendously,  gave  his  son-in-law  a 
facetious  poke  in  the  ribs,  and  turning  abruptly  to  Miss 
Cookum  well,  said  to  that  lady — "Now,  MissCookumpopple, 
we're  all  ready.  They  seem  to  have  had  enough  tea  and 
trash  ;  you'd  better  be  looking  after  Kate,  I  think." 

Miss  Cookumwell  smiled,  rose,  and  left  the  room  to 
obey;  Mrs  Taddipopple  followed  to  help,  and  soon 
returned  with  Kate,  whom  they  delivered  up  to  her 
father  at  the  door.  Mr  Kennedy  led  her  to  the  upper 
end  of  the  room — Hany  Somerville  stood  by  her  side,  a.s 
if  by  magic — Mr  Addison  droj>ped  ojiportunely  before 


422 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


them,  as  if  from  the  clouds ;  there  was  au  extraordinary 
and  al>ru2)t  pause  in  the  hum  of  conversation,  and,  ere 
Kate  was  well  aware  of  what  was  ahout  to  liappen,  she 
felt  herself  suddenly  embraced  by  her  husband,  from 
whom  she  was  thereafter  violently  torn,  and  all  but 
smothered  by  her  sympathising  friends. 

Poor  Kate !  she  had  gone  through  the  ceremony  almost 
meclumically — recklessly,  we  might  be  justified  in  saying  ; 
for  not  having  raised  her  eyes  off  the  floor,  from  its  com- 
mencement to  its  close,  the  man  whom  she  accepted  for 
better  or  for  woiise  might  have  been  Jacques  or  Red- 
feather,  for  all  that  she  knew. 

Immediately  after  this,  there  Wiis  heard  the  sound  of  a 
fiddle,  and  an  old  Canadian  wius  led  to  the  upper  end  of 
the  room,  placed  on  a  chair,  and  hoisted,  by  the  powerful 
arms  of  Jacques  and  Louis,  upon  a  table.  In  this  conspi- 
cuous position  the  old  man  seemed  to  be  quite  at  his  ease. 
He  spent  a  few  nxinutes  in  bringing  his  instrument  into 
perfect  tune  ;  then,  looking  round  with  a  mild  patronising 
glance  to  see  that  the  dance I's  were  ready,  he  suddenly 
struck  up  a  Scotch  reel  with  an  amount  of  energy,  preci- 
sion, and  spirit  tliat  might  have  shot  a  pang  of  jealousy 
through  the  heart  of  Neil  Gow  himself  The  noise  that 
instantly  commenced,  and  was  kept  up  from  that  moment, 
with  but  few  intervals,  during  the  whole  evening,  was  of 
a  kind  that  is  never  heard  in  fashionable  drawing-rooms. 
Dancing,  in  the  backwood  settlements,  is  dancing.  It  is 
not  walking  ;  it  is  not  sailing  ;  it  is  not  undulating  ;  it  is 
not  sliding ;  no,  it  is  bona  fide  dancing  !  It  is  the  perform- 
ance of  intricate  evolutions  with  the  feet  and  legs  that 
makes  one  wink  to  look  at.  Performed  in  good  time  too, 
and  by  people  who  look  upon  all  their  muscles  as  being 


FllOM  Till:  FAB  NOUTir. 


423 


iisofxil  niacliines,  not  moroly  tilings  of  wliich  a  select  few, 
that  cannot  bo  dispensed  with,  are  brought  into  daily 
operation.     Consequently  the  thing  was   done  with  an 
amount  of  vigour  that  was  conducive  to  the  health  of 
performers,  and  productive  of  satisfaction  to  the  eyes  of 
beholders.     When  the  evening  wore  on  apace,  however, 
and  Jacques'  modesty  was  so  far  overcome  as  to  induce 
him  to  engage  in  a  reel,  along  with  his  friend  Louis  Pel- 
tier and  two  bouncing   young  ladies,  whose  father  had 
<lriven  them  twenty  miles  over  the  plains  that  day  in 
order  to  attend  the  wedding  of  their  dear  friend  and 
former  playmate,  Kate — when  these  four  stood  up,  wo 
say,  and  the  fiddler  played  more  enei-geticfdly  than  ever, 
and  the  stovit  backwoodsmen  began  to  warm  and  grow 
vigorous,  until,  in   the   midst  of  their  tremendous  leaps 
and  rapid  but  well-timed  motions,  they  looked  like  veiy 
giants  amid  their  brethren,  then  it  was  that  Harry,  as  he 
felt  Kate's  little  hand  pressing  his  arm,  and  observed  her 
s[)arkling  eyes  gazing  at  the  dancers  in  genuiih.  admira- 
tion, began  at  last  firndy  to  believe  that  the  whole  thing 
was  a  dream  ;    and  then  it  was  that  old  Mr  Kennedy 
rejoiced  to  think  that  the  house  had  been  built  under  his 
own  special  diny;tions,  and  he  knew  that  it  could  not,  by 
any  possibility,  be  sliaken  to  pieces. 

And  well  might  Harry  imagine  that  he  dreamed  ;  for, 
besides  the  bewildering  ten^J^ncy  of  the  almost  too-good- 
to-be-true  fact  that  Kate  was  really  Mi-s  Harry  Soiuer- 
ville,  the  scene  before  him  was  a  particularly  odd  and 
})orplexing  mixture  of  widely  different  elements — sugges- 
tive of  new  and  old  associations.  The  company  was 
miscellaneous.  There  were  retired  old  traders,  whose 
lives  from  boyhood  had  been  spent  in  danger,  solitude, 


424 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


wild  scenes  and  adventures,  to  which  those  of  Eobinson 
Crusoe  are  mere  child's-play.  There  were  3  oung  girls,  the 
daughters  of  these  men,  who  had  received  good  educations 
in  the  Eed  River  academy,  and  a  certain  degree  of  polish 
which  education  always  gives — a  very  different  polish,  in- 
deed, Irom  that  which  the  conventionalities  and  refinements 
of  the  old  world  bestow,  but  not  the  less  agreeable  on  that 
account — nay,  we  might  even  venture  to  say,  all  the  more 
agreeable  on  that  account.  There  were  Ked  Indians  and 
clergymen ;  there  were  one  or  two  ladies,  of  a  doubtful 
age,  who  had  come  out  from  the  old  country  to  live  there, 
having  found  it  no  easy  matter,  poor  things,  to  live  at 
home ;  there  v/ere  matrons,  whose  absolute  silence  on 
every  subject  save  "yes"  or  "no,"  shewed  that  they  had 
not  been  subjected  to  the  refining  influences  of  the 
academy,  but  wiiose  hearty  smiles,  and  laughs  of  genuine 
good-nature  proved  that  the  storing  of  the  brain  has, 
after  all,  very  little  to  do  with  the  best  and  deepest 
feelings  of  the  heart.  There  were  the  tones  of  Scotch 
reels  sounding, — tones  that  brought  Scotland  vividly  before 
the  very  eyes ;  and  there  were  Canadian  hunters  and  half- 
breed  voyageursy  whose  moccasins  were  more  accustomed 
to  the  turf  of  the  woods  than  the  boards  of  a  drawing- 
room,  and  whose  speech  and  accents  made  Scotland 
vanish  away  altogether  from  the  memory.  There  were 
old  people  and  young  folk  ;  there  were  fat  and  lean,  short 
and  long.  There  were  songs  too ;  ballads  of  England, 
pathetic  songs  of  Scotland,  alternating  with  the  French 
ditties  of  Canada,  and  the  sweet,  inexpressibly  plaintive 
canoe-songs  of  the  voyagcur.  There  were  strong  contrasts 
in  dress  also — some  wore  the  home-spun  trousers  of  the 
Bettlement,  a  few  the  ornamented  leggins  of  the  hunter. 


u. 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


425 


Capotes  were  there — loose,  flowing,  and  picturesque ;  and 
broad-cloth  tail-coats  were  there,  of  the  last  century, 
tight-fitting,  angular,  in  a  word,  detestable;  verifying  the 
truth  of  the  proverb  that  extremes  meet — by  shewing 
that  the  <nit,  which  all  the  wisdom  of  tailors  and  scientific 
fops,  after  centuries  of  study,  had  laboriously  wi'ought  out 
and  foisted  upon  the  poor  civilised  world  as  perfectly  sub- 
lime, appeared,  in  the  eyes  of  backwoodsmen  and  Indians, 
utterly  ridiculous.  No  wonder  that  Harry,  undcv*  the 
circumstances,  became  quietly  insane,  and  went  about 
committing  nothing  but  mistakes  the  whole  evening.  No 
wonder  that  he  emulated  liis  father-in-law,  in  abusing  the 
gray  cat,  when  he  found  it  siUTeptitiously  devouring  part 
of  the  supper  in  an  adjoining  room;  and  no  wonder  that, 
when  he  rushed  about  vainly  in  search  of  Mrs  Taddipopple, 
to  acquaint  her  with  the  cat's  wickedness,  he  at  last,  in 
desperation,  laid  violent  hands  on  Miss  Cookumwell,  and 
addressed  that  excellent  lady  by  the  name  of  Mrs  Popple- 
tad  dy. 

Were  we  courageous  enough  to  make  the  attempt,  we 
would  endeavour  to  describe  that  joyful  evening  from 
beginning  to  end.  "We  would  tell  you  how  the  company's 
spirits  rose  higher  and  higher,  as  each  individual  became 
more  and  more  anxious  to  lend  his  or  her  aid  in  adding 
to  the  general  hilarity  ;  how  old  Mr  Kennedy  nearly 
killed  himself  in  liis  fruitless  efibrts  to  be  everywhere, 
speak  to  everybody,  and  do  everything  at  once ;  how 
Charley  danced  till  he  could  scarcely  speak,  and  then 
talked  till  he  could  hardly  dance  ;  and  how  the  fiddler, 
instead  of  growing  wean'ed,  became  gradually  and  conti- 
nuously more  powerful,  until  it  seemed  as  if  fifty  fiddles 
were  playing  at  one  and  the  same  time.     We  would  tell 

28 


426 


SNOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


you  how  Mr  Addison  drew  more  than  ever  to  Mr  Con- 
way, and  how  the  latter  gentleman  agreed  to  correspond 
regularly  with  the  former  thenceforth,  in  order  that  their 
interest  in  the  great  work  each  had  in  hand  for  the  same 
Master  might  be  increased  and  kept  up  ;  how,  in  a  spirit 
of  recklessness  (afterwards  deeply  repented  of),  a  bashfdl 
young  man  was  induced  to  sing  a  song,  which,  in  the 
present  mirthful  state  of  the  company,  ought  to  have 
been  a  humorous  song,  or  a  patriotic  song,  or  a  good, 
loud,  inspiriting  song,  or  anything,  in  short,  but  what  it 
was — a  slow,  dull,  sentimental  song,  about  wasting  gra- 
dually away  in  a  sort  of  melancholy  decay,  on  accoimt  of 
disappointed  love,  or  some  such  trash,  which  was  a  false 
sentiment  in  itself,  and  certainly  did  not  derive  any 
additional  tinge  of  truthfulness  from  a  thin,  weak  voice, 
that  was  afllicted  with  chronic  flatness,  and  edged  all  its 
notes.  Were  we  courageous  enough  to  go  on,  we  would 
further  relate  to  you  how,  during  supper,  Mr  Kennedy, 
senior,  tried  to  make  a  speech,  and  broke  down  amid  up- 
roarious applause;  how  Mr  Kennedy,  junior,  got  up 
thereafter, — being  urged  thereto  by  liis  father,  who  said, 
with  a  convulsion  of  the  cheek,  "  Get  me  out  of  the 
scrape,  Charley,  my  boy," — and  delivered  an  oration, 
which  did  not  display  much  power  of  concise  *:lucidation, 
but  was  replete,  nevertheless,  with  consummate  impu- 
dence; how,  during  this  point  in  the  proceedings,  the 
gray  cat  made  a  last  desperate  effort  to  purloin  a  cold 
chicken,  which  it  had  watched  anxiously  the  whole  even- 
ing, and  was  caught  in  the  very  act, — nearly  strangled, 
and  flung  out  of  the  window,  where  it  alighted  in  safety 
on  the  snow,  and  fled — a  wiser,  and,  we  trust,  a  better 
cat.     We  would  recount  all  this  to  you,  reader,  and  a 


PROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


427 


,  the 
cold 


great  deal  more  besides ;  but  we  fear  to  try  your  patience, 
and  we  tremble  violently,  much  more  so,  indeed,  than 
you  will  believe,  at  the  bare  idea  of  waxing  prosy. 

Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  party  separated  at  an  early 
hour — a  good,  sober,  reasonable  hour  for  such  an  occa- 
sion— somewhere  before  midnight.  The  horses  were 
harnessed,  the  ladies  were  packed  in  the  sleighs  with  furs 
so  thick  and  plentiful  as  to  defy  the  cold;  the  gentlemen 
seized  their  reins,  and  cracked  their  whips — ^the  horses 
snorted,  plunged,  and  dashed  away  over  the  white  plains 
in  different  directions,  while  the  merry  sleigh-bella 
sounded  fainter  and  fainter  in  the  frosty  air.  In  half 
an  hour,  the  stars  twinkled  down  on  the  still,  cold  scene, 
and  threw  a  pale  light  on  the  now  silent  dwelling  of  the 
old  fur-trader. 

****** 

Ere  dropping  the  curtain  over  a  picture  in  which  we 
have  sought  faithfully  to  portray  the  prominent  features 
of  those  wild  regions  that  lie  to  the  north  of  the  Canadas, 
and  in  which  we  have  endeavoured  to  describe  some  of 
the  peculiarities  of  a  class  of  men  whose  histories  seldom 
meet  the  public  eye,  we  feel  tempted  to  add  a  few  more 
touches  to  the  sketch  ;  we  would  fain  trace  a  little 
farther  the  fortunes  of  one  or  two  of  the  chief  actors  in 
our  book.     But  this  must  not  be. 

Snowflakes  and  sunbeams  came  and  went  as  in  days 
gone  by.  Time  rolled  on,  working  many  changes  in  its 
course,  and,  among  others,  consigning  Harry  Somerville 
to  an  important  post  in  Red  River  colony,  to  the  uii- 
utterable  joy  of  Mr  Kennedy,  senior,  and  of  Kate.  After 
much  consideration  and  frequent  consultation  with  Mr 
Addison,  Mr  Conway  resolved  to  make  another  journey  to 


428 


SXOWFLAKES  AND  SUNBEAMS 


pi-eacli  the  gosixsl  of  Jesus  Christ  to  those  Indian  tribes  that 
iuhabit  the  regions  beyond  Athabasca  ;  and  being  a  man 
of  gi*eat  energy,  he  determined  not  to  await  the  opening 
of  the  river  navigation,  but  to  undertake  the  first  part  of 
his  expedition  on  snow-shoes.  Jacques  agreed  to  go  with 
him  as  guide  and  hunter — Tledfeather  as  interpreter. 
It  was  a  bright,  cold  morning  Avhen  he  set  out,  accom- 
panied part  of  the  way  by  Charley  Kennedy  and  Harry 
Somervillo,  whose  hearts  were  heavy  at  the  prospect  of 
parting  with  the  two  men  who  had  guided  and  protected 
them  during  their  earliest  experience  of  a  voyageur's 
life — when,  with  hearts  full  to  overflowing  with  romantic 
anticipations,  they  firet  dashed  joyously  into  the  almost 
untrodden  wilderness. 

During  their  career  in  the  woods  together,  the  young 
men  and  the  two  hunters  had  become  warmly  attached  to 
each  other ;  and,  now  that  they  were  about  to  part — it 
might  be  for  years,  perhaps  for  ever — a  feeling  of  sadness 
crept  over  them,  which  they  could  not  shake  off,  and 
which  the  promise  given  by  Mr  Conway  to  revisit  Red 
River  on  the  following  spring,  sex'ved  but  slightly  to 
dispel. 

On  arriving  at  the  spot  where  they  intended  to  bid 
their  friends  a  last  farewell,  the  two  young  men  held  out 
their  hands  in  silence.     Jacques  grasped  them  warmly. 

"Mister  Charles,  Mister  Harry,"  said  he,  in  a  deep, 
earnest  voice,  "  the  Almighty  has  guided  us  in  safety 
for  many  a  day  when  we  travelled  the  woods  together — 
for  which  praised  be  His  holy  name !  May  He  guide 
and  bless  you  still,  and  bring  us  together  in  this  world 
again,  if  in  His  wisdom  He  see  fit." 

There    was    no    answer,    save     a    deeply-murmured 


I.> 


FROM  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


429 


"Ameu."  In  another  moment,  tho  travellers  resumed 
their  march.  On  reaching  the  summit  of  a  slight  emi- 
nence, where  the  prairies  terminated  and  tlio  woods 
began,  they  paused  to  wave  a  last  adieu  ;  then  Jacques, 
putting  liimself  at  the  head  of  the  little  party,  plunged 
into  the  forest,  and  led  them  away  towarda  the  snowy 
regions  of  the  Far  North. 


THE  END. 


KOINBUROH:   rBINTItn  BT  T.   NEr,SON  AND  SOW!. 


